North Sudan forces 'take control' of Abyei

A UN official says it appears that northern Sudanese forces have taken control of Abyei, a contested town on the border with South Sudan.

It follows three days of clashes between northern and southern forces in the area.

The dispute over the oil-rich region is seen as a possible trigger for a new war, and comes just weeks before the South is due to become an independent state.

The BBC's James Copnall reports from Sudan's capital, Khartoum.