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Armies 'head for central Sudan' | Armies 'head for central Sudan' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Rival troops from north and south are converging on central Sudan, a UN official has told the BBC. | Rival troops from north and south are converging on central Sudan, a UN official has told the BBC. |
The country was "on the brink" of a resumption of the 20-year civil war, said UN regional co-ordinator for South Sudan David Gressley. | The country was "on the brink" of a resumption of the 20-year civil war, said UN regional co-ordinator for South Sudan David Gressley. |
The warning follows recent clashes in the oil-rich region of Abyei, which is claimed by both sides. | The warning follows recent clashes in the oil-rich region of Abyei, which is claimed by both sides. |
On Tuesday, the US envoy to Sudan warned that leaders from both sides were not interested in peace. | On Tuesday, the US envoy to Sudan warned that leaders from both sides were not interested in peace. |
The renewed warnings come as the UN Security Council is in Sudan, trying to ease tensions in Abyei, as well as the western region of Darfur. | The renewed warnings come as the UN Security Council is in Sudan, trying to ease tensions in Abyei, as well as the western region of Darfur. |
"There's a gradual escalation of forces on all sides at this point in time," Mr Gressley said. | "There's a gradual escalation of forces on all sides at this point in time," Mr Gressley said. |
Mr Gressley said he did nOt think either side wanted a war, at this point, but that the situation had to be de-escalated or it could unravel the entire peace process. | |
BBC world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says that would spell a new drama in Sudan, which already has millions of war-displaced people. | |
Some 50,000 people - virtually the entire population - fled the heavy fighting in Abyei town last month. | Some 50,000 people - virtually the entire population - fled the heavy fighting in Abyei town last month. |
The area contains oil wells which generate billions of dollars, but our correspondent says more than money is at stake - Abyei is coming to symbolise a new breakdown in trust between the mainly Arab north and South Sudan. | |
The two sides signed a peace deal in 2005 and the former southern rebels joined the national government. | |
Under this deal, the mainly Christian and animist south is due to hold a referendum in 2011 on whether to secede. |