Rebel movements in Darfur risk security

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (UPI) -- The U.N.-African Union mission in the Darfur region of Sudan is warning that escalating violence is leading to a rapidly deteriorating security situation.

U.N. Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno, who addressed the U.N. Security Council Wednesday, said recent attacks by the rebel group known as the Justice and Equality Movement, along with other heightened confrontations in Darfur, continue to destabilize an already fragile security situation and threaten to spill over Sudan's borders into neighboring countries, the United Nations reported.

Guehenno also said the U.N.-AU mission has received unconfirmed reports that the Sudan Liberation Army, another rebel group in the region, could be planning an attack on the North Darfur capital of El Fasher.

The Sudan government has responded to the increased rebel activity largely through indiscriminate bombing, which has led to the deaths of several civilians.

"We are very concerned that the movement of significant numbers of JEM fighters from Darfur all the way to Khartoum went undetected and took both UNAMID and the government by surprise," Guehenno said in a statement.

"Our great concern is (ensuring) that it doesn't lead to further escalation. It's really essential now that all actors move away from the brink of going into another cycle of violence."