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UN to Tour Sudan's Conflict-Filled Southern Kordofan Region


Residents gather outside UNMIS sector headquarters in Kadugli town June 9, 2011.
Residents gather outside UNMIS sector headquarters in Kadugli town June 9, 2011.

Sudan says six U.N. agencies will take part in a Khartoum-organized mission to Southern Kordofan to assess the conflict ridden region's humanitarian needs.

Sudan's U.N. ambassador says the trip includes representatives from United Nations agencies focused on health, humanitarian and children's issues.

He announced the tour of Southern Kordofan less than one week after the U.N. human rights office called for an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region. The office said it has received reports of indiscriminate killings, widespread looting and massive civilian displacement in the state.

Also this week, the U.S.-based Sentinel Project released images of what it says are two piles of corpses wrapped in body bags or tarps on a mountainside in Southern Kordofan state.

During June, forces allied to what were then northern and southern Sudan clashed in the state. The fighting preceded South Sudan's split from the north in July, six years after a long civil war.

The U.N. report blames most of the abuses in Southern Kordofan on the north's army, police and allied militia.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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