By David Lewis
ABYEI, Sudan (Reuters) - Thousands of civilians fledclashes between Sudan's former north-south civil war foes inthe oil-rich central town of Abyei on Thursday, local officialssaid.
The clashes, sparked by a local dispute, have highlightedthe tension in an area claimed by both Khartoum and SouthSudan. More than three years after a 2005 peace deal, they havenot agreed on borders or a local government for the region.
Sporadic gunfire could be heard on the second day ofclashes and smoke rose from the town.
"Most of the civilians have left town. There are about25,000 east of Abyei," said Malony Tong, a local official fromthe former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement(SPLM). "It is not calm".
Around 50 civilians sought refuge at the gates of the U.N.peacekeeping compound but were not allowed to enter.International U.N. staff were being evacuated.
Tensions have been high for months between South Sudan andKhartoum over delays in implementing the 2005 peace deal. Bothsides blame the other for stalling.
The SPLM says more than $1 billion in oil revenues fromAbyei has been taken by the ruling National Congress Partyrather than shared with the south as the peace deal prescribes.
But despite the clashes in Abyei, north-south relationshave improved markedly since an unprecedented attack by Darfurrebels on Khartoum at the weekend when South Sudan offeredmilitary help to the government.
The 2005 peace deal did not cover Sudan's western Darfurregion, where war broke out in 2003.
Sudan has suffered decades of conflict between Khartoum andfar-flung regions that complain of neglect and discriminationby the traditionally Arab-dominated central government.
Clashes along the north-south border have continued despitethe 2005 accord and have killed hundreds of people in the pastyear. A lack of discipline by ex-rebels and pro-Khartoummilitias means fighting can easily flare.
Some 2 million people died in the war between north Sudanand the largely Christian and animist south.
International experts believe 200,000 have died as a resultof the war in Darfur, where Muslim but non-Arab Darfuris tookup arms in 2003. The government says only 10,000 people havebeen killed there.
The Darfuri Justice and Equality Movement brought theregional conflicts to the capital for the first time onSaturday in the attack which killed more than 200 people. Sudanblamed Chad for the assault and cut diplomatic relations.
The Greater Nile Petroleum Operation Company (GNPOC), aconsortium led by the Chinese CNPC, India's ONGC and MalaysianPetronas works in Abyei. Experts say oil production haddeclined in the past few years.
(Writing by Opheera McDoom; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
