U.N.: Crimes against Humanity May Have Been Committed in Sudan

Allegations of summary executions, aerial bombardments of civilians and enforced disappearances in Sudan's South Kordofan could constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes, the U.N. said Monday.

"If substantiated (the allegations) could amount to crimes against humanity, or war crimes for which individual criminal responsibility may be sought," according to the preliminary results of a U.N. investigation into a series of incidents in South Kordofan between June 5 and 30.

A report prepared jointly by the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and the world body's mission in Sudan details "extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and illegal detention, enforced disappearances, attacks against civilians" allegedly committed in the troubled state.

South Kordofan remained under Khartoum's northern administration when South Sudan became independent last month but since June violent clashes have been pitting Nuba rebels once allied to southern rebels against the Sudanese army.