UN concerned by Sudanese conflict

Sudan and South Sudan are called on to honor their commitments to peace amid clashes along the border between the two rival states. Mark Lyall Grant, the British ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement that members of the UN Security Council had grave concerns about military conflict along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. "The members of the Security Council condemn actions by any armed group aimed at the forced overthrow of the government of either Sudan or South Sudan," his statement read. "The members of the Security Council affirm their strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Sudan and South Sudan." South Sudanese President Salva Kiir accused Sudanese forces of launching air and ground attacks on oil regions in the state of Unity. South Sudan became an independent nation in July as part of a comprehensive peace agreement reached in 2005. The deal, however, is in jeopardy despite non-aggression pledges. Samia Mohammed Ahmad, deputy speaker of Sudan's National Assembly, was quoted by the Sudan Tribune as saying bilateral deals with Juba were still in place "in principle." Khartoum, however, decided to cancel a bilateral summit set of April. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived Wednesday in Iraq to attend a summit for the Arab League.