Obama Calls for Cease-Fire in Sudan

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged Sudan's governmenton Wednesday to halt military actions in a troubled border state and called for a cease-fire to end bloody violence as the south prepares for independence due in early July.

"The government of Sudan must prevent a further escalation of this crisis by ceasing its military actions immediately, including aerial bombardments, forced displacements and campaigns of intimidation," Obama said in an audio message issued through the government-funded Voice of America network.