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Sudan President Omar al-Bashir 'offers Abyei pull-out' Sudan's Bashir and Kiir 'agree Abyei troop pull-out'
(about 17 hours later)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has reportedly offered to withdraw his troops from the disputed town of Abyei - a flashpoint as South Sudan prepares for independence next month. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and southern leader Salva Kiir have reportedly agreed to withdraw all troops from the disputed town of Abyei.
Mr Bashir is reported to have made the offer to southern leader Salva Kiir at African Union talks in Ethiopia. The northern seizure of the town last month sparked fears of renewed conflict, as the south prepares to secede in July.
Some 140,000 people have fled recent clashes in Abyei and the neighbouring region of South Kordofan.Some 140,000 people have fled recent clashes in Abyei and the neighbouring region of South Kordofan.
Aid workers say pro-southern groups are being ethnically cleansed.Aid workers say pro-southern groups are being ethnically cleansed.
South Sudan is due to secede as part of a peace deal which ended two decades of north-south conflict, which left some 1.5 million people dead. South Sudan is due to gain independence under a peace deal which ended two decades of north-south conflict that left some 1.5 million people dead.
There are fears that the recent fighting could reignite the conflict, although President Bashir has said he would accept the south's independence. The BBC's Peter Martell in South Sudan says that full details of the withdrawal agreement are still to be disclosed but he says it is a significant step forward.
South Sudan's Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the details of what would happen if northern forces withdrew were still being worked out. Neither Mr Bashir nor Mr Kiir have commented since leaving Addis Ababa but officials say Ethiopian troops under UN command are to be deployed to Abyei, which will become a demilitarised zone.
Mr Bashir and Mr Kiir are continuing their talks for a second day. Before flying to the Ethiopian capital, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged both sides to accept the offer of Ethiopian troops, reports the AFP news agency.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi are mediating the talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi helped mediate the deal.
An AU statement said they would focus on the withdrawal of forces from the disputed town of Abyei, which the north forces seized last month. However, our correspondent warns that heavy fighting is continuing in South Kordofan, where human rights groups have reported that southerners are being targeted by pro-northern forces.
It said the talks would discuss "the dispatch of an African-led international mission to provide security, to provide conditions for the speedy return of displaced people and steps towards a final settlement of the status of the area". 'Ethnic cleansing'
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is to arrive in Ethiopian capital on Monday in the latest leg of her Africa tour, is to meet Mr Kiir but not Mr Bashir, one of her aides told AFP news agency. Although South Kordofan is north of what will soon be the international border, it is home to many pro-south communities, some of whom fought with southern rebels during the long civil war.
'Southerners targeted'
Human rights groups have warned that southerners are being targeted by pro-northern forces in the neighbouring South Kordofan state. Although it is in the north, it is home to many pro-south communities and has been the scene of recent clashes.
"People are being hunted down for their ethnicity," John Ashworth, an adviser with the Sudan Ecumenical Forum, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme."People are being hunted down for their ethnicity," John Ashworth, an adviser with the Sudan Ecumenical Forum, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
He said many areas inhabited by Nubans were being bombed and shelled by northern forces and that people had fled further into the area's hills and mountains to escape the attacks. He said many areas inhabited by ethnic Nubans were being bombed and shelled by northern forces and that people had fled further into the area's hills and mountains to escape the attacks.
During the long civil war, many residents of the Nuba Mountains fought with the south.
Aid workers say that some 40,000 people have been forced from their homes in South Kordofan, on top of some 100,000 in Abyei.Aid workers say that some 40,000 people have been forced from their homes in South Kordofan, on top of some 100,000 in Abyei.
Amnesty International's Tawanda Hondora told the BBC's Network Africa programme that some people had been arrested outside the UN base in the South Kordofan capital, Kadugli, and were later shot dead.Amnesty International's Tawanda Hondora told the BBC's Network Africa programme that some people had been arrested outside the UN base in the South Kordofan capital, Kadugli, and were later shot dead.
"We think this is the start of what might be ethnic cleansing of South Kordofan, Unity State and Abyei, with the precise purpose of ensuring that, come independence, the areas will not have people who are perceived to be sympathetic to the south," he said."We think this is the start of what might be ethnic cleansing of South Kordofan, Unity State and Abyei, with the precise purpose of ensuring that, come independence, the areas will not have people who are perceived to be sympathetic to the south," he said.
Aid agency offices have been looted, churches have been ransacked and buildings destroyed.Aid agency offices have been looted, churches have been ransacked and buildings destroyed.
But this was denied by Rabbie Abdelattif Ebaid, an adviser to Sudan's information minister.But this was denied by Rabbie Abdelattif Ebaid, an adviser to Sudan's information minister.
"The armed forces are targeting the rebels. The area has now been freed from all rebels. Everything is now quiet in the main towns," he said."The armed forces are targeting the rebels. The area has now been freed from all rebels. Everything is now quiet in the main towns," he said.
On Friday, the south accused the northern military of bombing areas in Unity State to seize oil fields from the south.On Friday, the south accused the northern military of bombing areas in Unity State to seize oil fields from the south.
The north-south war ended with a 2005 peace deal, under which the mainly Christian and animist south held a referendum in January on whether to secede from the largely Arabic-speaking, Muslim north.The north-south war ended with a 2005 peace deal, under which the mainly Christian and animist south held a referendum in January on whether to secede from the largely Arabic-speaking, Muslim north.
Some 99% of voters opted for independence. President Bashir said he would accept the verdict of the south, where most of Sudan's oil fields lie.Some 99% of voters opted for independence. President Bashir said he would accept the verdict of the south, where most of Sudan's oil fields lie.
Sudan: A country divided Show regionsSudan: A country divided Show regions
The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.
Sudan's arid northern regions are home mainly to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in Southern Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditional beliefs and languages.Sudan's arid northern regions are home mainly to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in Southern Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditional beliefs and languages.
The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In Southern Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In Southern Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.
The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.
Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.
Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and Southern Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and Southern Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.
Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue, exacerbating tensions with the north. The oil-producing region of Abyei was due to hold a separate vote on whether to join the north or the south, but it has been postponed indefinitely.Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue, exacerbating tensions with the north. The oil-producing region of Abyei was due to hold a separate vote on whether to join the north or the south, but it has been postponed indefinitely.