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| Africa Horn |
| Sudanese army take control of Abyei area, S. Sudan |
| 2008-05-21 |
| (KUNA) -- The Sudanese army announced Tuesday that the oil rich area of Abyei was under government control after heavy clashes with the rebel poular movement of the south. The army indicated that the rebels withdrew from the city after they attacked an army base before dawn. Abyei locals told KUNA by phone that sounds of heavy artillery have stopped completely, adding that the clashes left most of the buildings heavly damaged. They also indicated that dead bodies were scattered in the streets and it was impossible to retrieve the dead. The army announced that several Sudanese soldiers were killed in the attack. Casualties in the ranks of hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force were also reported. The UN deployed about 10,000 peacekeeping soldiers to Abyei in accordance to the peace deal signed between the government and the rebels in 2005. Despite the accord, Abyei remains under dispute between the south and north. In 2011, Abyei will witness a referendum which is going to allow residents of the city to decide on its loyality status. |
| Posted by:Fred |