This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8444843.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Aid groups warn of Sudan war risk | Aid groups warn of Sudan war risk |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ten international aid groups say a 2005 peace deal in Sudan is on the verge of collapse and that the world must act now to prevent renewed conflict. | Ten international aid groups say a 2005 peace deal in Sudan is on the verge of collapse and that the world must act now to prevent renewed conflict. |
| The agencies blamed a "lethal cocktail" of rising violence, chronic poverty and political tensions. | The agencies blamed a "lethal cocktail" of rising violence, chronic poverty and political tensions. |
| The oil-rich south is due to hold a referendum on independence in 2011. | The oil-rich south is due to hold a referendum on independence in 2011. |
| The peace deal five years ago ended a 22-year civil war that left some 1.5 million people dead. The region remains one of the poorest areas of the world. | The peace deal five years ago ended a 22-year civil war that left some 1.5 million people dead. The region remains one of the poorest areas of the world. |
| The peace deal saw President Omar al-Bashir's northern National Congress Party (NCP) enter government with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) rebels from the south. | The peace deal saw President Omar al-Bashir's northern National Congress Party (NCP) enter government with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) rebels from the south. |
| But tensions are again rising between the former enemies in the run-up to the referendum and April's general election - the first nationwide poll for 24 years. | But tensions are again rising between the former enemies in the run-up to the referendum and April's general election - the first nationwide poll for 24 years. |
| The SPLM has accused the NCP of stirring up ethnic violence in the south to destabilise the region ahead of the polls - charges the northern party denies. | The SPLM has accused the NCP of stirring up ethnic violence in the south to destabilise the region ahead of the polls - charges the northern party denies. |
| More people died from violence in southern Sudan last year than in Darfur. | More people died from violence in southern Sudan last year than in Darfur. |
| South 'deteriorating' | South 'deteriorating' |
| In their report, the aid agencies cite disputes over Sudan's oil resources, April's election and the independence referendum as potential flashpoints. | In their report, the aid agencies cite disputes over Sudan's oil resources, April's election and the independence referendum as potential flashpoints. |
| The situation is not as good as we were expecting after the signature of the comprehensive peace agreement Omar Muhammad SiddiqSudanese ambassador in London | The situation is not as good as we were expecting after the signature of the comprehensive peace agreement Omar Muhammad SiddiqSudanese ambassador in London |
| A return to conflict would have devastating consequences extending far beyond southern Sudan, they say. | A return to conflict would have devastating consequences extending far beyond southern Sudan, they say. |
| The BBC's James Copnall in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, says the country is clearly at the start of a highly charged and risky 12 months. | The BBC's James Copnall in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, says the country is clearly at the start of a highly charged and risky 12 months. |
| However, he says that there is a heavy international presence in the country - unlike previous crises the country has gone through. | However, he says that there is a heavy international presence in the country - unlike previous crises the country has gone through. |
| The strength of the UN peacekeeping mission has yet to be tested, but almost 10,000 military personnel are charged with keeping the peace in the south, he says. | The strength of the UN peacekeeping mission has yet to be tested, but almost 10,000 military personnel are charged with keeping the peace in the south, he says. |
| Sudan's ambassador to London, Omar Muhammad Siddiq, acknowledged that the situation in southern Sudan was "deteriorating". | Sudan's ambassador to London, Omar Muhammad Siddiq, acknowledged that the situation in southern Sudan was "deteriorating". |
| He said communities were competing for scarce resources and were arming themselves and fighting "tribal wars". | He said communities were competing for scarce resources and were arming themselves and fighting "tribal wars". |
| "The situation is not as good as we were expecting after the signature of the comprehensive peace agreement," he said. | "The situation is not as good as we were expecting after the signature of the comprehensive peace agreement," he said. |
| South Sudan awaits oil bonanza Could clashes herald return to war? | South Sudan awaits oil bonanza Could clashes herald return to war? |
| However, he argued that the unrest would not affect the election, in which he said parties and voters were preparing to participate. | However, he argued that the unrest would not affect the election, in which he said parties and voters were preparing to participate. |
| Meanwhile, the UK says it has pledged £54m ($87m) in aid to help rebuild southern Sudan and prepare for April's elections. | Meanwhile, the UK says it has pledged £54m ($87m) in aid to help rebuild southern Sudan and prepare for April's elections. |
| British Foreign Office minister Glenys Kinnock, who is due to visit Sudan, noted that many Sudanese still live in poverty. | British Foreign Office minister Glenys Kinnock, who is due to visit Sudan, noted that many Sudanese still live in poverty. |
| "They are doing disastrously, and that is reflected in the terrible poverty and relentless suffering of the people," she said. | "They are doing disastrously, and that is reflected in the terrible poverty and relentless suffering of the people," she said. |
| But she added that fully blown conflict could still be averted. | But she added that fully blown conflict could still be averted. |
| "What we're asking is for the leadership of both sides... [to] ensure that they talk together, they work together with the same motivation, which is to bring peace and security to Sudan," she said. | "What we're asking is for the leadership of both sides... [to] ensure that they talk together, they work together with the same motivation, which is to bring peace and security to Sudan," she said. |
| SUDAN'S STRUGGLING SOUTH Southern Sudan All Sudan Population: 7.5m to 9.7m Population: 42.2m Area: 640,000 sq km Area: 2.5m sq km Maternal mortality: 1,700 deaths per 100,000 births Maternal mortality: 1,107 deaths per 100,000 births Access to clean water: 50% Access to clean water: 70% Life expectancy: 42 years Life expectancy: 58.92 years Sources: CIA, UN, UNFPA |