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Sudan: UN urges Khartoum to pullout from Abyei region Sudan: UN urges Khartoum to pullout from Abyei region
(about 2 hours later)
UN Security Council envoys have urged North Sudan to "withdraw immediately" its troops from the contested Abyei region on the border with South Sudan.UN Security Council envoys have urged North Sudan to "withdraw immediately" its troops from the contested Abyei region on the border with South Sudan.
The call was made by the UN diplomats who are on a tour of Sudan.The call was made by the UN diplomats who are on a tour of Sudan.
South Sudan said the Abyei takeover was an act of war, saying civilians and southern soldiers were killed.South Sudan said the Abyei takeover was an act of war, saying civilians and southern soldiers were killed.
South Sudan is due to become independent in July, but Abyei's status remains to be determined after a referendum on its future was shelved.South Sudan is due to become independent in July, but Abyei's status remains to be determined after a referendum on its future was shelved.
People in the Southern capital of Juba are worried and there is a grim mood on the streets of the capital, the BBC's Peter Martell in South Sudan reports.People in the Southern capital of Juba are worried and there is a grim mood on the streets of the capital, the BBC's Peter Martell in South Sudan reports.
The North said it acted after 22 of its men were killed in a southern ambush earlier this week.The North said it acted after 22 of its men were killed in a southern ambush earlier this week.
Residents fleeResidents flee
"The members of the Security Council call upon the government of Sudan to halt its military operation and withdraw immediately from Abyei town and its environs," the French ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, said in Khartoum."The members of the Security Council call upon the government of Sudan to halt its military operation and withdraw immediately from Abyei town and its environs," the French ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, said in Khartoum.
"They condemn the escalatory military operation being undertaken by the Sudanese armed forces. This constitutes a serious violation of the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005)," Mr Araud said."They condemn the escalatory military operation being undertaken by the Sudanese armed forces. This constitutes a serious violation of the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005)," Mr Araud said.
He was speaking during a joint news conference with his Russian and US counterparts.He was speaking during a joint news conference with his Russian and US counterparts.
Separately, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU top diplomat Catherine Ashton condemned the violence in Abyei.Separately, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU top diplomat Catherine Ashton condemned the violence in Abyei.
A southern military spokesman earlier told the BBC the North had attacked the area with 5,000 troops, killing civilians and southern soldiers.A southern military spokesman earlier told the BBC the North had attacked the area with 5,000 troops, killing civilians and southern soldiers.
Some 20,000 people, almost the whole population of the town, had fled, aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told the BBC.Some 20,000 people, almost the whole population of the town, had fled, aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told the BBC.
Spokesman Raphael Gorgeu said residents had moved to Agok, about 45km (28 miles) south of Abyei, and were fleeing further south.Spokesman Raphael Gorgeu said residents had moved to Agok, about 45km (28 miles) south of Abyei, and were fleeing further south.
He said 42 people wounded in the fighting in Abyei had been treated at a local MSF hospital.He said 42 people wounded in the fighting in Abyei had been treated at a local MSF hospital.
Southern 'ambush' criticisedSouthern 'ambush' criticised
The seizure of Abyei followed two days of skirmishes, artillery fire and at least one air raid.The seizure of Abyei followed two days of skirmishes, artillery fire and at least one air raid.
The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says that in a clear demonstration of who is now in charge of Abyei, President Omar al-Bashir issued a decree dismissing the region's administration.The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says that in a clear demonstration of who is now in charge of Abyei, President Omar al-Bashir issued a decree dismissing the region's administration.
This is a convincing northern military victory, making use of its greater resources.This is a convincing northern military victory, making use of its greater resources.
The key question now is whether the North has, in seizing Abyei, fulfilled its objective.The key question now is whether the North has, in seizing Abyei, fulfilled its objective.
A northern General, Ahmed Abdalla, told the BBC his men would go up to the river at the south of the region of Abyei.A northern General, Ahmed Abdalla, told the BBC his men would go up to the river at the south of the region of Abyei.
If this is the case, the North will have de facto control over Abyei.If this is the case, the North will have de facto control over Abyei.
But southerners must be nervous that this is the start of a larger attack.But southerners must be nervous that this is the start of a larger attack.
Some of the South's most valuable oil fields are just over the border from Abyei.Some of the South's most valuable oil fields are just over the border from Abyei.
The UN Security Council is in Sudan, and will surely make it clear no-one wants a new north-south war.The UN Security Council is in Sudan, and will surely make it clear no-one wants a new north-south war.
But these are dangerous times in Sudan.But these are dangerous times in Sudan.
Abyei had been governed by a joint body comprising northerners and southerners, led by a southerner.Abyei had been governed by a joint body comprising northerners and southerners, led by a southerner.
Southern military spokesman Col Philip Aguer said the North had committed an aggression, and called for the international community to step in.Southern military spokesman Col Philip Aguer said the North had committed an aggression, and called for the international community to step in.
"If the international community do not intervene quickly to rescue the situation then this is a complete violation of the comprehensive peace agreement, a complete violation of the ceasefire, and it is a declaration of war by Khartoum," he told the BBC."If the international community do not intervene quickly to rescue the situation then this is a complete violation of the comprehensive peace agreement, a complete violation of the ceasefire, and it is a declaration of war by Khartoum," he told the BBC.
The North says it acted after 22 of their men were killed in a southern ambush on Thursday.The North says it acted after 22 of their men were killed in a southern ambush on Thursday.
The UN said the northern troops who were ambushed were being escorted out of Abyei by UN peacekeepers.The UN said the northern troops who were ambushed were being escorted out of Abyei by UN peacekeepers.
UN officials described the incident as "a criminal attack" and the US called on South Sudan to "account" for the assault.UN officials described the incident as "a criminal attack" and the US called on South Sudan to "account" for the assault.
Washington said the attack was "in direct violation" of the agreement signed by the north and south in January to "remove all unauthorised forces" from Abyei.Washington said the attack was "in direct violation" of the agreement signed by the north and south in January to "remove all unauthorised forces" from Abyei.
South Sudanese forces denied responsibility for the incident.South Sudanese forces denied responsibility for the incident.
Tension over Abyei - claimed by a southern group, the Dinka Ngok, and northern nomads, the Misseriya - has been rising since a referendum on its future scheduled for January was postponed.Tension over Abyei - claimed by a southern group, the Dinka Ngok, and northern nomads, the Misseriya - has been rising since a referendum on its future scheduled for January was postponed.
Since then there have been fears clashes in Abyei could spark a new North-South war, which this latest incident will do nothing to dispel, our correspondent says.Since then there have been fears clashes in Abyei could spark a new North-South war, which this latest incident will do nothing to dispel, our correspondent says.
Under the CPA deal, which ended 22 years of civil war, Abyei was granted special status and a joint north-south administration set up in 2008.Under the CPA deal, which ended 22 years of civil war, Abyei was granted special status and a joint north-south administration set up in 2008.
Sudan: A country divided Show regions
The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.
Sudan's arid northern regions are home mainly to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in Southern Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditional beliefs and languages.
The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In Southern Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.
The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.
Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.
Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and Southern Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.
Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue, exacerbating tensions with the north. The oil-rich border region of Abyei is to hold a separate vote on whether to join the north or the south.