Sudan Slips Into Chaos. Russia Lurks In The Background.

In the Sudanese capital, civilians cower behind interior walls, fearing flying window glass and stray bullets. Commerce in Khartoum has ground to a halt. Water and electricity outages are widespread. Pitched battles have broken out near the airport and other parts of the city of 5 million, with fighter jets roaring overhead.

Two military factions -- once political allies, now battlefield adversaries -- are wrestl