Khartoum blamed for Abyei clashes

A senior Southern leader has urged Khartoum to honour agreements on Abyei after renewed fighting in the oil district on the eve of an independence referendum for the south.

Mr Deng Alor of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, reported clashes in Abyei, confirming reports that calm had returned to the district on Sunday. Several people were killed and others wounded in the clashes.

“If the National Congress (Party of the north) want peace, cooperation and benefits with the south, the way is to cooperate with the SPLM, and to accept the implementation of the agreement on Abyei,” Mr Alor said.

Organised militias

He added that militias organised by the NCP had carried out attacks in Abyei and Bentiu, another key oil-producing district on the border.

He was speaking as referendum voting began on Sunday. A vote in Abyei to choose whether it wants unity with the north or south was also part of the 2005 accord and due to coincide with the independence referendum.

But polling there was indefinitely postponed after neither side was able to agree on who should be eligible to participate.