Uganda, May 5 -- Ethiopia has opened up its air space to allow foreign countries to airlift their citizens out of Sudan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.

Ministry's spokesperson, Ambassador Meles Alem, at a press briefing said that the Ethiopian government has so far granted 75 flight permits to 18 countries based on international humanitarian principles.

France, America and Spain are the countries that have been given relatively many flight permits.

According to Ambassador Meles, Ethiopia has so far facilitated the evacuation of foreign citizens from 61 countries through its border.

"So far, 7,726 Ethiopians and foreign citizens of 61 countries have been evacuated from Sudan through Ethiopia," he said adding: "Out ...