U.N. urged to increase efforts in Sudan

UNITED NATIONS, June 19 (UPI) -- A delegation that recently returned from Sudan is calling for an increased level of support from the U.N. Security Council for the war-ravaged country.

Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom, who co-led the delegation in Sudan, said the comprehensive peace agreement reached between Sudan's government and former southern rebel opposition is fragile, the United Nations reported.

Sawers stressed the landmark deal ending the long-running civil war is vital to ensuring stability in Sudan. He called on the U.N. Security Council to increase support and to "interpret its mandate more robustly than it has done so far," Sawers said in a statement.

Sawers specifically cited the recent violence in the Sudanese town of Abyei and the urgent need to protect civilians in the region.

The Security Council is scheduled to review the U.N. mission in Sudan's mandate in July. Officials are calling for the need to pay closer attention to the under-resourced operation to deter further violence.