Nairobi/Khartoum - The chief conflict mediator for a joint United Nations-African Union mission in Sudan's restive Darfur province warned Thursday that a recent upsurge in fighting is undermining the chances of peace.

The UN says more than 9,000 people have fled their homes in south Darfur in recent weeks as Sudanese government aircraft bombed rebel positions and ground battles raged between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and government forces.

New York  - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the fighting between rebels and Sudanese government troops in El Fasher in the northern province of Darfur.

The fighting took place Monday on the outskirt of El Fasher, where the UN and African Union maintains the headquarters of its peacekeeping operation in troubled Darfur.

This follows clashes earlier this month in south Darfur involving the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi, the UN said.

Nairobi/Khartoum - Sudanese opposition leader Hassan al- Turabi has been arrested for saying that President Omar Beshir should face war crimes charges in relation to the Darfur conflict, reports said Thursday.

Al-Turabi's wife Wisal al-Mahdi told the Sudan Tribune that security agents came for the leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) just before midnight on Wednesday.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is deliberating whether to issue an arrest warrant for Beshir.

New York - UN Secretary General

Washington - US President George W said Monday he has authorized the US military to conduct airlift missions into Sudan's Darfur region to transport vehicles and equipment for the UN peacekeeping mission.

Bush approved US support for the mission before meeting with Sudanese Vice President Salva Kiir, a rival of President Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir has been the target of US sanctions for his failure to reign in the government-backed militias waging war in Darfur.

Washington - US President George W has authorized the airlift of equipment to Sudan's Darfur region in support of a UN peacekeeping mission, the White House said Monday.

Bush approved US support for the mission as he was to meet with Sudanese Vice President Salva Kiir, a rival of President Omar al-Bashir. The president has been the target of US sanctions for his failure to reign in the government-backed militias waging war in Darfur.

"The United States will continue to lead the international community to stand by the people of Darfur and to deploy and support the UN peacekeeping operation," national security adviser Stephen Hadley said.