"If it goes badly we understand that there is a significant risk of a
return to civil war," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.
On Dec. 7, the United States announced the cancellation of one of two
referendums for southern Sudan. The State Department said the referendum for
self-determination for Sudan's oil-rich Abyei region would not be held on
Jan. 9, 2011.
"I think we have a recognition that that referendum will not go forward
on Jan. 9th, but we continue to encourage the parties to work on a solution
to Abyei," Crowley said.
Diplomats said the cancellation of the Abyei referendum was expected.
They said Khartoum was sending government-aligned militias and special
forces to attack the Abyei region in an effort to intimidate United
Nations personnel assigned to conduct the elections.
In November, Khartoum failed to reach agreement with the southern
Sudanese government on the key issue of voter eligibility. The southern
government in Juba has accused Bashir of preventing southerners who
have been living in the north from reaching their homes to vote in the
elections.
"We have made it clear to leaders in Khartoum and Juba they must
cooperate in the post-referendum phase," Crowley said. "And should the
people of south Sudan vote for independence, it will be incumbent upon them
to work effectively and cooperatively leading to the creation of the new
nation of South Sudan next July."