.- The authorities of South Sudan on Sunday called for international help because the northern Sudanese forces took a disputed border town, while the Security Council and Secretary General of the United Nations demanded the withdrawal of troops and to military action. But declined to provide specific responses to evict the occupying soldiers potentially explosive atmosphere that threatens to resume the civil war in the divided country.
Several tanks arrived in the northern part of Abyei on Saturday night, the troops dispersed to the south that were in place as part of a joint security unit. The United Nations camp was attacked with mortars and the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon said two peacekeepers were wounded. The violence escalated less than two months before South Sudan, which has an African majority population, will become the new country in the world on July 9 after a referendum in which its inhabitants were delivered overwhelmingly to secede from the north, a predominantly Arab community.
The north and south Divil fought a war over two decades until a peace agreement in 2005 offered the possibility of southern independence. Under the peace agreement, Abyei should also call a referendum to decide whether it is part of the north or south, but the exercise was canceled by a disagreement over who could vote.
The occupation was carried out after an attack on a convoy of soldiers from the north on Thursday and two days of air strikes north of the area. "Current occupation (by the government of the north) is illegal, it is the responsibility of the Security Council ( UN) see to withdraw, "said Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Information in the South.
The northern army has accused the South of violating the peace agreement and said that the occupation of the area including the town of Abyei, will continue until it can reach an agreement that guarantees security and stability in the region. The ruling party of President Omar al-Bashir in the North said in a statement of the armed forces of the north were "charged with protecting the territory of Sudan and the stability and security of its citizens in the south and north." Both north and south claim Abyei, a fertile region near several major oil fields, and their questionable status has long been seen as a potential trigger for violence.
Hollywood actor George Clooney established a satellite project to monitor the area, fearing that a confrontation between the two sides could carry back to Sudan to civil war killed 2 million of its citizens. The Security Council of the UN, which has a delegation visiting Sudan, both sides blamed the violence.
In a statement, said southern forces had attacked a convoy of soldiers from the north, and that the North had stepped up confrontation to take Abyei. Ban also called for an end to military operations and urged both parties to "desist from further acts of antagonism. In a statement issued by his spokesman, reiterated the commitment of maintaining peace and security in the region.
The activist John Prendergast called the international community to take tough measures against northern Sudan, to ensure that routinely breaks international agreements. "Instead of more carrots from the international community is the moment of real consequences," he said. The southern army spokesman , Colonel Philip Aguer, said the occupation of Abyei was an act of war by the North, but for now the South did not respond.
Southern Sudan has a military capability less than the north. 
Several tanks arrived in the northern part of Abyei on Saturday night, the troops dispersed to the south that were in place as part of a joint security unit. The United Nations camp was attacked with mortars and the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon said two peacekeepers were wounded. The violence escalated less than two months before South Sudan, which has an African majority population, will become the new country in the world on July 9 after a referendum in which its inhabitants were delivered overwhelmingly to secede from the north, a predominantly Arab community.
The north and south Divil fought a war over two decades until a peace agreement in 2005 offered the possibility of southern independence. Under the peace agreement, Abyei should also call a referendum to decide whether it is part of the north or south, but the exercise was canceled by a disagreement over who could vote.
The occupation was carried out after an attack on a convoy of soldiers from the north on Thursday and two days of air strikes north of the area. "Current occupation (by the government of the north) is illegal, it is the responsibility of the Security Council ( UN) see to withdraw, "said Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Information in the South.
The northern army has accused the South of violating the peace agreement and said that the occupation of the area including the town of Abyei, will continue until it can reach an agreement that guarantees security and stability in the region. The ruling party of President Omar al-Bashir in the North said in a statement of the armed forces of the north were "charged with protecting the territory of Sudan and the stability and security of its citizens in the south and north." Both north and south claim Abyei, a fertile region near several major oil fields, and their questionable status has long been seen as a potential trigger for violence.
Hollywood actor George Clooney established a satellite project to monitor the area, fearing that a confrontation between the two sides could carry back to Sudan to civil war killed 2 million of its citizens. The Security Council of the UN, which has a delegation visiting Sudan, both sides blamed the violence.
In a statement, said southern forces had attacked a convoy of soldiers from the north, and that the North had stepped up confrontation to take Abyei. Ban also called for an end to military operations and urged both parties to "desist from further acts of antagonism. In a statement issued by his spokesman, reiterated the commitment of maintaining peace and security in the region.
The activist John Prendergast called the international community to take tough measures against northern Sudan, to ensure that routinely breaks international agreements. "Instead of more carrots from the international community is the moment of real consequences," he said. The southern army spokesman , Colonel Philip Aguer, said the occupation of Abyei was an act of war by the North, but for now the South did not respond.
Southern Sudan has a military capability less than the north.
- Sudan gunmen 'burning Abyei town' (23/05/2011)
- Sudan Abyei dispute: Gunmen burning and looting - UN - BBC News (23/05/2011)
- Abyei Bloodshed: Sudan on the Brink of Civil War (23/05/2011)
- Southern Sudan accuses north of moving toward war (23/05/2011)
- Group: Residents of Abyei flee from advancing Sudanese troops (23/05/2011)
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