Sudan has not taken any significant steps to normalise relations with Israel since April when its cabinet repealed a decades-long boycott of the country, Sudan's foreign minister told The National news site in an interview.

“There's not any sign of normalisation with Israel … and there are no talks at any official level,” Mariam Sadiq al-Mahdi was quoted by the UAE-based site as saying.

"Abolishing a law on boycotting Israel does not mean that we [will] consider opening an Israeli embassy in Khartoum," she added.

Ms Mahdi said a new parliament, which is yet to be constituted, will deal with the issue.

She added that improving relations with Israel was necessary to improve relations with the US and said it was tied to support for Sudan joining the World Trade Organization after nearly two decades of failed attempts.

Last year Sudan joined the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco in agreeing to normalise ties with Israel.

On the contentious issue of whether former President Omar al-Bashir will be handed over to the International Criminal Court to face war crimes charges, she said Sudan's joint civilian-military transitional council - which rules the country - is divided over it.

Last week, Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok - a civilian - said that an attempt by "remnants from the previous regime" to stage a coup had been foiled.