US urges rebels to join Sudan truce

WASHINGTON: The United States urged southern Sudanese rebels to join a two-week truce in a contested border state where clashes have raged since before South Sudan gained independence in July.

South Kordofan remained under Khartoum's northern administration when South Sudan became independent, but violent clashes have been pitting rebels from the region's Nuba mountains against the Sudanese army.

Tuesday's unilateral ceasefire by President Omar al-Bashir "is a positive initial step toward bringing stability and relief to those affected by violence since early June," State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said on Thursday.

"The United States strongly urges the (rebel) Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North to show the same leadership and declare a two week ceasefire as well," she said in a written statement.

Nuland added that "the parties must immediately return to talks to agree to a full cessation of hostilities and a resolution of the political future of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile."

According to the Enough Project, which works in the region to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity, sources in the South Kordofan town of Kauda "identified a Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Antonov bomber flying south this morning in the direction of the town of Ungarto."

The "reliable sources" told Enough Project workers that they heard "heavy shelling and aerial bombardment around Ungarto."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011