Armies 'head for central Sudan'

Rival troops from north and south are converging on central Sudan, a UN official has told the BBC.

The country was "on the brink" of a resumption of the 20-year civil war, said UN regional co-ordinator for South Sudan David Gressley.

The warning follows recent clashes in the oil-rich region of Abyei, which is claimed by both sides.

On Tuesday, the US envoy to Sudan warned that leaders from both sides were not interested in peace.

The renewed warnings come as the UN Security Council is in Sudan, trying to ease tensions in Abyei, as well as the western region of Darfur.

"There's a gradual escalation of forces on all sides at this point in time," Mr Gressley said.

Mr Gressley said he didn't think either side wanted a war, at this point, but that the situation had to be de-escalated or it could unravel the entire peace process.

BBC World Affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says that would spell a new drama in Sudan, which already has millions of war-displaced people.

Some 50,000 people - virtually the entire population - fled the heavy fighting in Abyei town last month.

Source: BBC