Abyei: The number of people displaced from Sudan’s disputed Abyei region after its seizure by northern troops has reached 150,000, a southern minister says. “The situation is terrible – they are running in fear from brutal violence, without shelter,” Humanitarian Affairs Minister James Kok Ruea said.
Media reports says the figure is a huge leap from UN estimates of between 30,000 and 40,000.
Meanwhile, the north says it can start talks on the crisis this weekend.
The northern negotiator on Abyei, Al-Dirdiri Mohammed Ahmed, told media he hopes the negotiations will take place in Ethiopia on Saturday hosted by the African Union mediators.
Analysts fear the dispute over the region, also claimed by South Sudan which is due to become independent in July, could reignite the north-south war in which some 1.5 million people died.
On Thursday, southern President Salva Kiir said he would not lead his people back into conflict with the north over Abyei and said talks would be the best way to resolve the dispute.
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