Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on recent reports of increased military activity in Darfur

During the past few days, the United Nations has received troubling reports of aerial bombings near Kutum in Northern Darfur, as well as reports of fighting in the area of Tine, Western Darfur and along the border with Chad. The Secretary-General takes these reports very seriously and calls on all parties to refrain from hostilities, to respect the spirit of the ceasefire recently declared by the Government of Sudan and to cooperate with UNAMID [United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur] in investigating these reports.