UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Clashes between the Sudanese government and rebels continued in the country's western Darfur region despite international calls for them to observe an earlier ceasefire, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report released on Monday.

    "The conflict that has plagued the three Darfur states of Sudan since early 2003 did not ease during the month of March," Annan said in the monthly report, which has been submitted to the Security Council.

    "The killing of civilians and combatants alike must stop and a genuine ceasefire must be observed," he said, while repeating his calls on all parties to abide by several agreements they have already signed.

    While attacks on the civilian population decreased marginally and the government redeployed some troops in South Darfur, Annan said, these positive steps were overshadowed by the increased military activity and attacks against international personnel.

    "Reports of Janjaweed attacks against villages were received throughout the month," he said of the militia group accused of committing atrocities in Darfur.

    Saying he is troubled by the rash of attacks against international personnel, Annan highlighted three incidents, one ofthem by suspected Janjaweed, "because of the apparent intent to doharm to, or kill, those who have come to help the people of the Sudan."

    He urged the international community to "take urgent action" tostrengthen the 2,260-strong African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which is mandated to monitor the situation in Darfur, an area the size of France.

    "A stronger and more capable AMIS presence in Darfur will greatly enhance the overall security environment," he wrote. "Better security, in turn, will greatly facilitate the search for apolitical solution."

    The Darfur conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 2 million more since rebels took up arms two years ago, partly in protest at the distribution of economic resources. Enditem