KHARTOUM (AFP) - Islamist Sudan said on Wednesday that it hoped for peace and stability in its "sister" country Egypt, official media reported, after the army in Cairo toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.

Khartoum was "following up with concern the political developments in Egypt, based on the special relations between the two sister countries and peoples, and in the context of... keenness that peace and stability shall prevail", the state Suna news agency said, citing a foreign ministry statement.

It added that a stable Egypt meant stability for the entire Arab and African region.

Sudan is keen "to maintain its fraternal relations with Egypt and to enhance further the bilateral relations", the ministry said.

Mursi, a veteran Muslim Brotherhood leader, was elected in June last year after a popular uprising ended three decades of authoritarian rule by Mr Hosni Mubarak.

In April, Mursi made his first visit as leader to Sudan, which Egypt jointly ruled with Britain until 1956.

Sudan called his trip "historic", and the two sides vowed to double trade and investment.

Mr Mubarak's regime had strained relations with Khartoum.