A vote for independence in oil-rich Southern Sudan's referendum next year could be catastrophic, the African Union's top diplomat¹ has warned.

非洲联盟首席外交官警告，苏丹南部含油区明年举行的独立公投可能是灾难性的。

African Union troops have a massive presence in Sudan

In an interview with French broadcaster RFI, Jean Ping likened Sudan's situation to "sitting on a powder keg".

He suggested the nation could once again face north-south conflict and said other areas like Darfur would try to follow the south to independence.

Southern Sudanese are due to vote in an independence referendum公民投票 next year.

The vote was agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal which ended a 22-year war between north and south.

The BBC's James Copnall, in Khartoum, says it is rare for such a senior official to be so outspoken坦率的，直言不讳的.

War risk?

In his RFI interview, AU commission chairman Mr Ping said the AU was "very concerned" about Sudan.

"We have a feeling that we are sitting on a powder keg炸药桶," he said.

"Is the war between north and south at risk of resuming despite what has been said?

"Will the independence of Southern Sudan not lead other players in Darfur and in other places, which are currently not asking for independence, to seek independence as Southern Sudan will have done?"

He described the sequence of events事情的进展 as a "catastrophic灾难的，悲惨的 scenario²".

Our correspondent says his outlook观点，景色 is similar to many national leaders, who hate the thought that Southern Sudan becoming independent could set a precedent³.

Meanwhile, the new head of the international peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Unamid, says he wants it to become more involved in mediation调解，仲裁.

In an interview with the BBC, Ibrahim Gambari said he was hopeful a solution to the conflict could be found.

Although the war between north and south ended officially in 2005, tensions and mistrust continue.