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| Sudan tense for oil border ruling | Sudan tense for oil border ruling |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Tension is high in Sudan as judges in The Hague have begun their ruling on a disputed internal border which cuts through rich oil fields. | |
| The main parties in north and south Sudan have pledged to abide by the court ruling but some fear a return to their long war, which ended in 2005. | The main parties in north and south Sudan have pledged to abide by the court ruling but some fear a return to their long war, which ended in 2005. |
| Under the peace deal, the south is autonomous but the region's borders are not clearly defined. | Under the peace deal, the south is autonomous but the region's borders are not clearly defined. |
| Both north and south claim the Abyei region and its oil. | Both north and south claim the Abyei region and its oil. |
| The Permanent Court of Arbitration will not decide on who owns the land, but will decide on where Abyei's borders lie. | The Permanent Court of Arbitration will not decide on who owns the land, but will decide on where Abyei's borders lie. |
| UN peacekeepers have beefed up their presence in Abyei in the run-up to the decision. | UN peacekeepers have beefed up their presence in Abyei in the run-up to the decision. |
| At the weekend the UN accused the southern Sudanese army, the SPLA, of moving troops into Abyei ahead of the ruling - claims the SPLA strongly denied. | At the weekend the UN accused the southern Sudanese army, the SPLA, of moving troops into Abyei ahead of the ruling - claims the SPLA strongly denied. |
| Armies from the north and south had agreed to stay out of the area. | Armies from the north and south had agreed to stay out of the area. |
| Ghost town | Ghost town |
| A 22-year civil war - separate from the Darfur conflict - which pitted the mainly Muslim north against the Christian and animist south ended in 2005, after claiming 1.5 million lives. | A 22-year civil war - separate from the Darfur conflict - which pitted the mainly Muslim north against the Christian and animist south ended in 2005, after claiming 1.5 million lives. |
| Under the peace deal a commission was established which demarcated Abyei's boundaries - but the north rejected the commission's decision. | Under the peace deal a commission was established which demarcated Abyei's boundaries - but the north rejected the commission's decision. |
| Rivals agree to avert war Could clashes herald return to war? Uneasy peace in Sudan ghost town | Rivals agree to avert war Could clashes herald return to war? Uneasy peace in Sudan ghost town |
| Abyei was supposed to be administered jointly until a referendum in 2011, when residents will vote on whether to join the north or the south. | Abyei was supposed to be administered jointly until a referendum in 2011, when residents will vote on whether to join the north or the south. |
| Analysts say Abyei's residents are likely to vote to join southern Sudan's administration, so the disputed area's size and make-up is crucial. | Analysts say Abyei's residents are likely to vote to join southern Sudan's administration, so the disputed area's size and make-up is crucial. |
| At the same time, the south will vote on whether it wants to be independent. | At the same time, the south will vote on whether it wants to be independent. |
| The court in The Hague will decide if the boundary, which the commission ruled lies around 90km (56 miles) north of Abyei town, is correct - or it will demarcate a new border. | The court in The Hague will decide if the boundary, which the commission ruled lies around 90km (56 miles) north of Abyei town, is correct - or it will demarcate a new border. |
| After clashes broke out in Abyei town last year, the two sides agreed to refer the case to The Hague. | After clashes broke out in Abyei town last year, the two sides agreed to refer the case to The Hague. |
| As many as 100 people died, and the incident was seen as the biggest threat to the peace deal. | As many as 100 people died, and the incident was seen as the biggest threat to the peace deal. |
| Correspondents say Abyei town is a ghost of its former self with few prepared to rebuild it, fearing further clashes. | Correspondents say Abyei town is a ghost of its former self with few prepared to rebuild it, fearing further clashes. |
| Only about 3,000 people are thought to live in and around Abyei compared with 50,000 before the fighting last year, Reuters news agency reports. | Only about 3,000 people are thought to live in and around Abyei compared with 50,000 before the fighting last year, Reuters news agency reports. |
| The BBC's James Copnall in the capital, Khartoum, says the area is home to an Arab group of cattle herders, known as the Misseriya - loyal to the north, and the Dinka Ngok, part of the largest ethnic group of the south. | The BBC's James Copnall in the capital, Khartoum, says the area is home to an Arab group of cattle herders, known as the Misseriya - loyal to the north, and the Dinka Ngok, part of the largest ethnic group of the south. |
| There is competition for resources like land for grazing and water and the divisions can easily be exploited, analysts say. | There is competition for resources like land for grazing and water and the divisions can easily be exploited, analysts say. |
| Both sides were used as proxy armies during the civil war. | Both sides were used as proxy armies during the civil war. |
| Are you in Sudan? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Sudan? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |