G8 tells Sudan to pull out of Abyei

DEAUVILLE, France, May 27 (UPI) -- Western and African nations, in a joint declaration Friday, demanded that north Sudanese forces withdraw from the disputed border region of Abyei.

The statement was part of a document issued by the Group of Eight and the African Union at the end of the G8 summit in Deauville, France.

The call to "all parties to withdraw all unauthorized forces from the area" was a clear signal to Khartoum, whose army took over the oil-rich zone, also claimed by seceding South Sudan, last weekend.

The statement praised the end of the Ivory Coast civil war while noting "the grave humanitarian and socio-economic situation" and encouraging "the Ivorian authorities to spare no efforts to take the necessary steps to address the issues of justice, peace and reconciliation."

Both sides in the conflict have been accused of atrocities.

"Africa is on the move and is becoming a new pole for global growth," the communique declared.

"We are determined to further promote together shared values, notably peace and human rights, democratic governance and sustainable development … in a spirit of mutual accountability.

"We will act in the spirit of partnership aimed at liberating development potential of 1 billion Africans."