Friday, June 3, 2011

Sudanese church leaders urge end to deadlock over Abyei


From Catholic News Service-

Catholic and Anglican church leaders in Sudan urged the government to end the deadlock over the disputed area around Abyei and allow resettlement for the tens of thousands displaced by the recent violence.

"We demand that our governments make an immediate concerted effort to agree upon a cease-fire and withdrawal of northern troops from Abyei to allow deployment of a neutral security force, safe passage and speedy resettlement for all the displaced and to work toward a genuine and lasting peace agreement," said the statement sent to Catholic News Service June 1.

It was signed by Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba and Episcopal Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, primate of the Episcopal Church in Sudan.

Sudan seized Abyei May 21 after accusing troops from the South of attacking one of its convoys. U.N. officials said at least 60,000 people have been displaced by the ensuing violence, in which northern troops burned houses and attacked fleeing civilians.

The fighting comes just weeks before Southern Sudan's official independence date of July 9, after residents voted in January to secede from Sudan.

More here-

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1102175.htm

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