20110611
Xinhua
UNITED NATIONS, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people have been displaced by recent clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces ( SAF) and elements of the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army ( SPLA) in the South Kordofan region of Sudan and its regional capital Kadugli, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here Friday.

"OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) says since fighting began on 6 June, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people have fled Kadugli, though exact numbers cannot be verified, " Nesirky said.

South Kordofan, a region on the border between the north and south of Sudan, has become a particular point of tension between Khartoum and South Sudan as the latter prepares to become officially independent on July 9.

Nesirky noted that the fighting calmed down on Thursday in Kadugli, with gunfire occurring only sporadically.

"The Sudanese Armed Force has declared that it is in control of the city," he said. "There are armed checkpoints on main roads inside and around the city. Looting of property has reportedly continued, including of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations offices."

Nesirky said that OCHA estimates that two-thirds of the population of Kadugli has had to leave the city since fighting began.

"Surrounding towns and villages are reportedly deserted," he said. "The number of displaced people along the main road between the UN mission compound and the airport is between 6,000 and 10, 000 people."

Recent elections for governor of in the region resulted in a victory for the National Congress Party (NCP) of Khartoum. Sudanese leader Omar Al-Bashir has accused southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) of plotting to launch war in South Kordofan if it lost to NCP in the polls.