By Andrew Heavens
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A senior south Sudanese official onFriday accused the government of sending more troops to thedisputed oil town of Abyei, stoking tensions after a week ofbloody north-south clashes.
The claim was dismissed as "absolutely incorrect" bySudan's dominant northern party, the National Congress Party(NCP), which said it was ready to resolve the standoff at ameeting chaired by the United Nations next week.
More than 70,000 people are thought to have fled the areafollowing fighting between northern Sudan Armed Forces troopsand the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).
Heavy fighting which erupted on Tuesday killed at least 21northern soldiers and an unknown number of southerners.
Both the north and south covet Abyei, largely due to itsnearby oil pipeline and surrounding installations that producearound a half of Sudan's daily output of 500,000 barrels ofoil.
Its demarcation was left undecided in the historic 2005Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended more than two decadesof north-south civil war.
Analysts have warned that Abyei could be the flashpoint toreignite war if it is not resolved amicably and quickly.
Edward Lino, appointed by south Sudan's semi-autonomousgovernment as administrator for Abyei, said more northerntroops had been seen heading towards the region.
"The government of Khartoum is sending more troops to thearea. This is not going to be for the good of Sudan. It isgoing to be for the bad of Sudan. They want to fight," he toldReuters. Lino said SPLA troops were currently holding theirpositions to the south of the town.
"I am not suggesting that this could lead to civil war," headded. "But it could be localised."
Didiri Mohamed Ahmed, the NCP official in charge of Abyei,denied that any fresh troops were on their way to the remotecentral area.
"The situation has returned to normal. The SPLA haswithdrawn its troops to the south of the river and the SudanArmed Forces troops are in Abyei, under the terms of theprevious agreement."
He said there were now plans to hold a session of Sudan'sCeasefire Joint Military Committee, a high-level body made upof military leaders from both sides and chaired by the U.N.,some time next week.
Ahmed said he would be seeking an explanation of whysouthern troops left their position and attacked northerntroops in the town on Tuesday. Lino has said the fightingstarted only after northern troops advanced on southernpositions.
International observers said last week's fighting startedwith the shooting of a northern soldier at a checkpoint andquickly escalated from there.
Aid groups said they were bringing food, water and medicalcare to up to 60,000 of people who fled the fighting and tookshelter in the community of in Agok and 18 surroundingvillages.
The International Organisation of Migration said another10,000 people are believed to have moved south towards the townof Turalei and beyond.
(Editing by Keith Weir)
