A/HRC/9/13 page 15 56. Most likely triggered by an incident in which an SAF sergeant was killed by SPLA police on 13 May, armed clashes between the SAF and SPLA broke out in Abyei town the next day. Reportedly, the SAF was supported by former members of the Southern Sudan Union Movement (SSUM) who are now integrated into the SAF and armed Misseriya civilians, while the SPLA drew support from armed Dinka civilians. The following six days saw heavy fighting, in which the conflicting parties were said to have employed tanks, heavy artillery, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. On 20 May a reported SPLA attack was repulsed by the SAF which established full military control over Abyei. 57. According to eyewitness testimony, destruction of large parts of the town was not only due to fighting, but also a result of the comprehensive looting and burning of civilian houses and other properties including United Nations and NGO compounds. Eyewitnesses reported seeing both SAF and SPLA personnel participating in the burning and looting. From 16 May, only the SAF and Misseriya were looting since the SPLA was no longer in the town. Looting continued after 20 May, after the SAF repulsed an SPLA attack from outside the town and major hostilities ceased. Witnesses reported seeing looted property being stored inside the SAF 31st Brigade compound. On a number of occasions United Nations Military Observers (UNMO) saw SAF soldiers burning houses, such as on 16 May when an UNMO observed an SAF soldier on a donkey setting fire to several civilian houses. Looting was frequently accompanied by violence. There are several reported cases of elderly or infirm persons who had not been able to flee the town being physically attacked and seriously injured by looters. For example, one old woman who was bedridden at the time of the attack stated that armed men she thought belonged to the SSUM militia had entered her house and, upon finding her there, had beaten her until she lost consciousness. 58. As of 26 July 2008, at least 68 bodies had reportedly been recovered from Abyei town, 34 of which appeared to be civilians, including several women. Eyewitnesses reported that several deaths had resulted from the indiscriminate use of force, violence linked to looting and, most disturbingly, the deliberate killing or execution of dozens of civilians as well as of one injured combatant who was hors de combat. The majority of incidents reported identify SAF and allied forces as the perpetrators although there are also accusations directed against the SPLA and its supporters. Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Government of National Unity must take immediate action and support an in-depth, independent fact-finding inquiry and make the report public. 59. Some progress towards addressing these issues has been made as part of the commendable political agreement (the Abyei Road Map) that was struck on 8 July to de-escalate the crisis. Besides agreeing on the withdrawal of all SAF, SPLA and proxy forces from Abyei, the parties also agreed to refer the underlying unresolved dispute regarding the findings of the Abyei Boundaries Commission to be decided by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The agreement also initiated an inquiry by the Joint Military Committee established under the ceasefire into military aspects of the incidents in Abyei. Further to the political agreement, the rifts that the incident created between the local Dinka and Misseriya communities must also be addressed as a matter of urgency. Beyond justice and accountability, steps must also be taken to ensure community reconciliation and healing. With the seasonal migration of the Misseriya and their cattle towards the Kiir river area now approaching, steps must urgently be taken to ensure respect for traditional grazing routes and mutual accommodation of the local populations in order to avoid additional violent clashes.