Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok wants detainees released and governing bodies restored before he enters into any dialogue, his office said on Wednesday, denying a report he had agreed to lead a new government.

Quoting unnamed sources, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV had reported earlier in the day that Hamdok had agreed to return to lead a government. Al Hadath TV, an affiliate of Al Arabiya, reported Hamdok wanted political detainees released as a condition. 

However, his office denied he had agreed to return. "Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is detained in his residence by order of the coup authorities, is sticking by the conditions that all detainees be released and constitutional institutions be restored (as they were) before October 25, before engaging in any dialogue," it said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Hamdok was being prevented from communicating with supporters, it added.

The UN special envoy for Sudan said on Monday that Sudanese and international mediation efforts were expected to bear fruit in coming days.

An African Union special envoy arrived on Wednesday in Khartoum to mediate the Sudan crisis, said local media.

Hamdok has been under house arrest since his government was toppled on October 25 by General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.

(With input from Reuters)