Bashir says Abyei belongs to the north

Bashir says Abyei belongs to the north

Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, has said that Abyei belongs to the north and that his forces will not withdraw from the disputed region.

"Abyei is northern Sudanese land," Bashir said in a speech in the capital Khartoum on Tuesday. "We will not withdraw from it."
He said he had given the green light to the northern army to respond to any possible provocation by the army of south Sudan which also claims the region and plans to become independent on July 9.
The latest remarks marked a dramatic shift from his earlier statement that a peaceful resolution for Abyei would be found.
Northern forces took control of Abyei by moving tanks into the main settlement on the weekend after weeks of tensions.
PHOTO CAPTION
A map of Sudan showing the north-south border, the disputed Abyei district and the country's oil fields.
Agencies

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