We are deeply concerned by reports of bombing, close to and across the border between Sudan and South Sudan. We call for the speedy implementation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism which will help to address this issue. We have received no recent reports of bombing in Darfur, but we remain concerned by fighting between Sudanese armed forces and armed rebel groups.Ministers and officials raise these concerns in all contacts with the Government of Sudan. I did so at the African Union summit in January with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti. The Under-Secretary of State for International Development, my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr O'Brien), raised the issue during a visit to Sudan in February. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), issued a statement on 2 March regarding the build up of forces along the border with South Sudan and called for a calming of tensions.