The satellite images were taken on July 4 and showed a northern infantry
unit in
Southern Kordofan's capital city of Kadugli. The images showed Sudanese Army
combat vehicles, combat helicopters and artillery moving into the south.
"The apparent convoy is pointed north, although its origin, destination
and total length remain unknown," Satellite Sentinel said.
Western diplomats as well as human rights groups have assessed that
Bashir was planning a military campaign to capture much of Southern Kordofan
as well as other oil-rich areas claimed by the south. In May, northern
troops captured the energy-rich region of Abyei, which was to have
undergone a United Nations-led referendum for secession in January.
The UN has acknowledged that more than 73,000 civilians fled
Southern Kordofan since fighting intensified more than a month ago. Another
150,000 were said to have abandoned their homes in Abyei since the northern
army invasion.
Sudan has been producing about 500,000 barrels of oil per day. Under
secession, Khartoum could lose about 75 percent of the output to Southern
Sudan.