Expressing "grave concern" over the outbreak of fighting on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has "strongly condemned" the violence and called for an immediate end to the hostilities, fearing it could hamper peace efforts. Ban's strong condemnation came as Sudanese authorities said that the army had repulsed an unprecedented attack on capital Khartoum by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), following heavy clashes and the fighting was still going on.