Egypt and Libya have backed Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir's imposition of a state of emergency amid a continuing power struggle with the former parliamentary speaker Hassan al-Turabi.

The official Egyptian news agency reported that both President Hosni Mubarak and Libya's Colonel Gadhafi had spoken to President Bashir to express their support.

The two leaders issued a statement after their talks, calling on the president to "safeguard the unity of Sudan and achieve stability and security for its people," the Middle East News Agency reported.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa stressed that the three leaders were in almost permanent telephone contact.

The expression of support came as Sudan's foreign minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, became the first cabinet minister to resign in protest against the imposition of emergency rule.

"He is now staying at his home, having nothing to do with the executive," said the ruling National Congress party's spokesman, Mohamed Al-Hassan Al-Amin, said.

Mediation

Egypt and Libya have been heavily involved in mediation to end Sudan's 16 year civil war.

President Mubarak and Col Gadhafi's joint statement recommended "activating the Egyptian-Libyan initiative to achieve national reconciliation and accord in Sudan."

In a reference to the US decision to allow relief supplies to be delivered to the rebel-held areas of southern Sudan, the two statesmen said that they rejected "any foreign intervention in Sudan's internal affairs."

Nearly two million people have died from fighting and famine since the Sudan People's Liberation Army began fighting for autonomy for the south of the country.

The Sudanese Government earlier said that Hassan al-Turabi, was welcome to mount a legal challenge to the state of emergency.

The streets of Sudan's capital have been largely deserted since the state of emergency was declared, with few soldiers reported on the streets of Khartoum.