S. Sudan urges sanctions on Sudan

South Sudan called on the United Nations to impose sanctions against Sudan for “continued aerial and ground attacks” on its territory, according to a statement.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

South Sudan called on the United Nations to impose sanctions against Sudan for "continued aerial and ground attacks” on its territory, according to a statement.Juba filed a complaint with the UN Thursday over the alleged attacks, which South Sudan said numbered more than 100 since November.The attacks had taken place in Unity State, Upper Nile, Jonglei and the oil-rich western and northern Bahr el Ghazal regions, said Juba."It is ... incumbent on the (UN Security) Council to now condemn the republic of Sudan’s actions in the strongest terms possible, demand a cessation of violence and ... impose additional sanctions,” the statement read.Talks between Sudan and South Sudan resumed in the Ethiopian capital Tuesday following weeks of violence that brought the two foes back to the brink of all-out war.Tensions remained high as the talks opened, with South Sudan accusing the Sudan of fresh attacks.The two sides have been at loggerheads over the withdrawal of troops from the disputed Abyei region.A May 2 UN resolution said both sides had to pull their forces out of Abyei by May 16. South Sudan complied, withdrawing police who were based there, while Sudan pulled its army out after the deadline.But there was confusion Thursday as to whether a Sudanese police contingent was still there: after Khartoum’s foreign ministry had denied their presence, the country’s armed forces said they were still in the area.The UN resolution also called for a complete cessation of hostilities.South Sudan, in its complaint to the UN, accused Khartoum of having failed to adhere to this.The statement included what it said was an extensive list of "Sudanese attacks and incursions on South Sudan ... including numerous attacks perpetrated after the 2 May 2012 deadline.”African Union-led meetings continued for a fourth day in the Ethiopian capital, the first direct talks since last month’s deadly border fighting between the foes.Sudan and South Sudan fought a 1983-2005 war that left more than two million people dead, with Juba declaring independence in July.But tensions soon flared again over a series of unresolved issues, including the border, the future of disputed territories and oil.