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UN team in Sudan to discuss peace US freezes Sudan sanctions talks
(about 5 hours later)
A UN Security Council team is visiting Sudan for talks on a crisis over the peace agreement between the north and south of the country. The United States has suspended talks aimed at normalising US-Sudan relations as UN Security Council envoys visit the country to shore up a peace deal.
Fighting resumed in the border areas last month, threatening the 2005 peace accord that ended a 20-year civil war. The US move comes after fighting resumed on the north-south border last month, threatening the 2005 peace accord that ended a 20-year civil war.
The UN team will first visit South Sudan capital Juba for talks with the ex-rebels who administer the region. The American envoy called the talks a "sham" and said neither side was truly interested in peace.
They later go to the capital, Khartoum, to meet the national government. They discussed peace in Somalia on Monday. The UN wants a deal to end fighting over the oil-rich Abyei region.
"The US is suspending talks with Sudan," envoy Richard Williamson told reporters in Khartoum.
"At this point the leadership of either side is not interested in meaningful peace. I won't be part of a sham peace that won't change the situation."
Darfur crisis
Sudan has been under US sanctions for more than a decade and the talks were aimed at normalising relations.
The Americans say any lifting of the sanctions requires a solution to the crisis in the western region of Darfur.
The move came as the UN delegation was to visit the South Sudan capital Juba for talks with the ex-rebels who administer the region.
They were later due go to the capital, Khartoum, to meet the national government. They discussed peace in Somalia on Monday.
Clashes in Sudan's oil-rich town of Abyei have been threatening to pitch the north and south of the country into civil war again.Clashes in Sudan's oil-rich town of Abyei have been threatening to pitch the north and south of the country into civil war again.
Up to 90,000 people have fled after a week of fighting and the disputed town is now controlled by northern soldiers.Up to 90,000 people have fled after a week of fighting and the disputed town is now controlled by northern soldiers.
A deal in 2005 ended years of war between the Arab-dominated government in the north and southern rebels.A deal in 2005 ended years of war between the Arab-dominated government in the north and southern rebels.
John Sawers, the UK's UN ambassador, said the council was concerned about the threat to the fragile peace agreement.John Sawers, the UK's UN ambassador, said the council was concerned about the threat to the fragile peace agreement.
"There are serious difficulties at the moment following the very heavy violence in Abyei, the forced removal of what seems like hundreds of thousands of people from the town of Abyei who have only recently returned there," he said."There are serious difficulties at the moment following the very heavy violence in Abyei, the forced removal of what seems like hundreds of thousands of people from the town of Abyei who have only recently returned there," he said.
Further visitsFurther visits
On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to allow countries to send warships into Somalia's territorial waters to tackle pirates.On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to allow countries to send warships into Somalia's territorial waters to tackle pirates.
Security Council envoys met representatives of the Somali government and the opposition at a luxury hotel on the shores of the Red Sea in Djibouti.Security Council envoys met representatives of the Somali government and the opposition at a luxury hotel on the shores of the Red Sea in Djibouti.
The talks, which were held in Djibouti because Somalia is deemed too dangerous, are part of a UN plan to broker the first official direct talks between the Somali rivals.
The UN mission is later scheduled to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions of people have been displaced by fighting in the east of the country, and the Ivory Coast.The UN mission is later scheduled to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions of people have been displaced by fighting in the east of the country, and the Ivory Coast.