KHARTOUM, Nov 1, 2009 (AFP) - Enthusiastic Sudanese began Sunday to register for their country's first presidential, legislative and regional elections in 24 years, with the authorities facing a tough logistical challenge.

Due to be held in April, the ballot comes at a crucial time for Sudan.

The president faces an international arrest warrant for alleged crimes in the troubled western region of Darfur and tensions remain between the Khartoum government and the semi-autonomous, mostly Christian south, despite a peace deal struck in 2005 to end a 22-year

Major Rabbi said the project which also had the backing of the Eastern Equatoria State government is expected to

Forecast until mid-December 2009

An outbreak of Desert Locust developed in early October in western Mauritania. Control operations were in progress against a second generation of hatchlings and hoppers that were forming small concentrated groups and a few bands. The outbreak should be contained by early December unless unusually heavy and widespread rains fall in November. In that case, small swarms could form in early December and move north into southern Morocco, Western Sahara and northern Mauritania and breed,

KHARTOUM, Oct 31, 2009 (AFP) - Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army, the feared abductors of children who have spread fear in east-central Africa, are now rumoured to be heading into new terrain in Sudan's troubled Darfur.

A brutal guerrilla group, whose chief Joseph Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court, the LRA has already expanded into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and south Sudan.

Earlier this year in south Sudan, LRA men attacked several food aid distribution stations, killed hundreds of

- Political tensions rising across Sudan

JUBA, Sudan, Oct 31 (Reuters) - South Sudan's president on Saturday urged southerners to vote for independence in a referendum if they wanted to be free, the closest he has come to calling publicly for the separation of the oil-producing region.

The south secured a vote on whether to break away from Sudan as part of a peace deal that ended more than two decades of war with the north. But until now, southern President Salva Kiir has stuck to the official line of building support for unity.

NORTH DARFUR

Consultation Preparations. DDDC North Darfur made final preparations for a common ground consultation it will facilitate with all stakeholders in the North Darfur locality of Mellit on November 3 - 4, 2009.

DDDC North Darfur also further prepared for common ground consultations it will facilitate in other North Darfur localities and on a North Darfur statewide basis with specific stakeholders during November.

SOUTH DARFUR

Transitional Justice Workshop. DDDC

According to the Financial Tracking Service, more than US$3.3 billion out of $5.2 billion required had been allocated

ABYEI

Situation analysis: Scepticism amongst Misseriya towards the PCA ruling persists. Fears over possibly losing traditional grazing rights need to be taken into consideration during public education on the PCA and progress in recovery.

The Abyei Administration is hindered by internal conflict. During reporting week the Governor Arop Moyak suspended the Minister for Local Governance (NCP). In addition the Abyei Legal/Prosecutor office was closed for two weeks, following a dispute between the Governor,