British attempts to evacuate its embassy staff from Sudan at the weekend delayed efforts by other countries to rescue their own citizens, say senior German political sources.
They allege British forces landed in Sudan without the Sudanese army's permission - as other European nations were hoping to airlift citizens to safety.
Germany, among others, had planned to use the airfield north of Khartoum from which subsequent evacuation operations have been conducted.
But, the sources say, the "unannounced British military presence" so angered the Sudanese army that they refused access to the facility.
According to one source, having landed without permission, the British had to pay the army before leaving.
And negotiations to use the airfield meant that German rescuers "lost at least half a day" during what was, at the time, considered to be a very small window of opportunity.
The UK Ministry of Defence denied that it was responsible for any delay.
