WASHINGTON (AFP) ? Maintaining a UN peacekeeping presence in Sudan's disputed state of South Kordofan is "vital" to peace and humanitarian efforts, the United States said Thursday.
Washington's UN envoy Susan Rice also said the United States was "extremely concerned" by Khartoum's decision to force the departure of the UN mission on Saturday, when south Sudan officially gains its independence after decades of war.
"It's vital that the United Nations be allowed to maintain a full peacekeeping presence in these areas for an additional period of time in order to facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid, support the implementation of any cessation of hostilities agreement and vitally to protect civilians," Rice told reporters.
"The United States is extremely concerned by the (Khartoum) government's decision to compel the departure of the UN mission in Sudan from Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and elsewhere in the north on July 9th."
She also warned Khartoum it was "not in their interest that the UN be compelled to leave abruptly or prematurely while key CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) issues remain unresolved," notably the dispute over the common border and "a particularly volatile and grave humanitarian situation in Southern Kordofan."
Rice heads a US delegation that includes former secretary of state Colin Powell to the weekend ceremony marking south Sudan's independence.
White House spokesman Jay Carney urged Sudanese leaders "to work together to prevent violence and ensure that any isolated incidents do not cause wider instability or threaten a peaceful future for the citizens of these new nations."
"We're very hopeful, and we think that the peaceful transition to independence for South Sudan is a major milestone to a more peaceful and prosperous future for both Sudan and South Sudan," he added.
Key issues remain unresolved, among them the countries' final boundaries, division of oil revenues and the status of citizens in the south who remain living in the north.
Earlier this week, the State Department said it still was concerned by fighting in South Kordofan, on the border between Sudan and what will become the independent nation of South Sudan.
Sudanese troops arrested six UN staff of southern origin last month as they were being relocated from South Kordofan, where Sudanese soldiers and troops aligned to the south have clashed heavily.
The men were among 23 Sudanese UN staff flown to the southern city of Wau as part of the relocation plan of the beleaguered UN Mission in Sudan.
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