UN peacekeepers find 14 bodies in Sudan's disputed Abyei area

UN peacekeepers find 14 bodies in Sudan's disputed Abyei area

2011-05-04 02:09:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations peacekeepers on Tuesday found 14 bodies in Sudan's disputed Abyei area, apparent victims in the latest round of clashes.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) deployed patrols to the Todach area, where a fighting was reported on late Monday. Blue helmets discovered the bodies of 11 people wearing military uniforms and three civilians.

According to UNMIS spokesperson Kouider Zerrouk, the uniformed personnel were members of the joint integrated units (JIUs), comprising personnel from both Northern and Southern Sudan.

JIUs were set up as part of the efforts to implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan. UNMIS was established following the signing of the historic deal as well.

"We're concerned about these recent clashes in the Abyei area and we call on all concerned parties to refrain from using violence," added Zerrouk. "Peacekeepers were unable to confirm who was responsible for the killings but the attacks are being investigated."

Tensions have been high in Abyei for months as the area remains in dispute between the north and the south, which formally separated from the rest of the country last year. In January, a referendum was scheduled on the future status of Abyei but it never took place due to disputes over voter eligibility.

Earlier this year, millions of Southern Sudan residents voted in favor of separating from the rest of the African nation. However, north and south have been recently disputing over border demarcation and the status of the conflicted Abyei area.

In March, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called upon the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) to secure the Abyei area and to implement the short-term containment measures.

Mohamed Chande Othman, UN independent expert on Sudan, said that the Abyei situation could derail the entire peace process. He urged all parties to calm tensions and reach an agreement on all outstanding issues.

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