Fighting has broken out between the Sudanese army and the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Army, the United Nations has said.UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "deeply concerned" over clashes that flared in the southern town of Malakal on Monday and Tuesday. Non-essential UN and aid agency staff have been leaving Malakal.
The violence breaks a deal between Sudan's Arab north and black African south signed nearly two years ago. The BBC's Jonah Fisher,
There were reports of heavy gunfire in Malakal, but no reliable word on casualties.
The violence started as clashes between southern troops and pro-Khartoum militia but quickly escalated. Forces from the national army and the former southern rebels, the SPLA, fought in the streets of Malakal. The situation had calmed by Wednesday, but the UN chief remained concerned over outbreak of violence.
In a statement, Mr Annan appealed to Sudan's national unity and the government of southern Sudan "to make all possible efforts to contain the situation".
Located on the banks of the Nile near Sudan's oilfields, Malakal is one of the tensest towns in the south. During 20 years of civil war, Khartoum armed numerous tribal militias in the area to enable it to begin extracting oil.
A final peace deal between the Arab north and black African south was signed in January 2005, but it has not been easy to get the militia to hand in their weapons.
You don't say.
Unlike the continuing conflict in Darfur, Sudan's north-south ceasefire has largely held. There are 10,000 UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Sudan at a cost of $1bn a year.
THIS IS THE KICKER WHERE THE UN COPs OUT AS USUAL - worthless scum that they are.
A spokeswoman said they had no mandate to intervene and that the UN was encouraging both sides to peacefully resolve the situation.