Sudan and the South 'open new front' in border clash
Seven South Sudanese soldiers and 15 Sudanese were killed after clashes broke out in Aweil area as conflict between the two countries escalates. The clashes broke out north of Aweil in South Sudan, about 100 miles (160km) west of the Heglig oil field, scene of most recent fighting, South Sudan's army spokesman told the BBC. Sudan and South Sudan have accused each other of opening up a new front along their disputed border, raising fears of all-out war. South Sudan seceded last year but its border with Sudan has not been agreed. On Tuesday, envoys told the UN Security Council that Sudan and South Sudan were now "locked in a logic of war". 'Mentality of war' The latest fighting was sparked by the shooting dead of a South Sudanese soldier when he went to collect water on Tuesday night, South Sudan's army spokesman Col Philip Aguer said. It happened on the road between Aweil and Meiram in Sudan's Darfur region at a village known by southerners as Agok and by Khartoum as Bahr al-Arab camp. Sudan has not commented but Col Fathi Abdalla Arabi, the mayor of Meiram, confirmed the fighting to the Sudanese Media Center website, which has close links to the government. Most recent fighting has centred on Heglig, which was taken over by South Sudan last week - and the spread of fighting further along the border is of great concern, says the BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum. South Sudan gained independence after a two-decade civil war with the north and is now run by the former rebel movement. The difficult history between the two countries cannot be disregarded - and it could prove difficult for both to move away from a mentality of war, our correspondent says. -BBC -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
