Sudan: Thousands flee clashes in Sudan

(SomaliNet) Local officials said Thursday that thousands of civilians fled clashes between Sudan\'s former north-south civil war foes in the oil-rich central town of Abyei.

Reports say, the clashes, sparked by a local dispute, have highlighted the tension in an area claimed by both Khartoum and South Sudan. More than three years after a 2005 peace deal, they have not agreed on borders or a local government for the region.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard on the second day of clashes and smoke rose from the town.

\"Most of the civilians have left town. There are about 25 000 east of Abyei,\" said Malony Tong, a local official from the former southern rebel Sudan People\'s Liberation Movement (SPLM). \"It is not calm\".

Around 50 civilians sought refuge at the gates of the UN peacekeeping compound but were not allowed to enter. International UN staff were being evacuated.

Meanwhile, tensions have been high for months between South Sudan and Khartoum over delays in implementing the 2005 peace deal. Both sides blame the other for stalling.

According to the SPLM, more than $1-billion (about R7-billion) in oil revenues from Abyei has been taken by the ruling National Congress Party rather than shared with the south as the peace deal prescribes.

However, despite the clashes in Abyei, north-south relations have improved markedly since an unprecedented attack by Darfur rebels on Khartoum at the weekend when South Sudan offered military help to the government.

The 2005 peace deal did not cover Sudan\'s western Darfur region, where war broke out in 2003.

Sudan has suffered decades of conflict between Khartoum and far-flung regions that complain of neglect and discrimination by the traditionally Arab-dominated central government.-Reuters