United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that Sudan's Darfur region was descending into total lawlessness and called on the government and rebels to conclude peace talks by the end of the year.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan: 'The looming threat of complete lawlessness and anarchy draws nearer, particularly in western Darfur'
In his monthly report to the Security Council yesterday, Mr Annan said violence, killing and rape had increased in Darfur in September and October. Civilians have been forced out of villages - in some cases for the second or third time.
"The looming threat of complete lawlessness and anarchy draws nearer, particularly in western Darfur, as warlords, bandits and militia groups grow more aggressive," Mr Annan wrote.
The only solution was to conclude by the end of the year a "framework peace agreement" in the forthcoming seventh round of African Union (AU)-led peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, he said.
"It should be made clear to all parties that the AU-facilitated peace talks in Abuja are the only vehicle for achieving a viable solution," he said. "Talks outside of this framework, where some of the parties are excluded, will never lead to any sustainable agreements."
A new round of talks in Abuja was to begin yesterday, but AU sources in Khartoum said negotiations were delayed for logistical reasons.
Tens of thousands of Sudanese have been killed since a revolt in Darfur began in early 2003 by non-Arab villagers who accused the government of neglect and repression.
The government is accused of arming Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, who killed, raped, burned down villages and forced more than two million people out of their homes. Khartoum has denied supporting the militia.
The AU has a monitoring force in Darfur, the only bulwark against violence. Five of its peacekeepers were killed in October by armed groups, presumably rebels.