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| North Sudan to block oil pipeline if south will not pay | North Sudan to block oil pipeline if south will not pay |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has threatened to shut pipelines carrying South Sudan's oil if a deal on oil is not reached before it secedes in July. | Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has threatened to shut pipelines carrying South Sudan's oil if a deal on oil is not reached before it secedes in July. |
| He said either the south could continue to hand over half of its oil revenue to the north, or it could pay for using the north's oil infrastructure. | He said either the south could continue to hand over half of its oil revenue to the north, or it could pay for using the north's oil infrastructure. |
| Mr Bashir warned that if neither was accepted, he would block the pipeline. | Mr Bashir warned that if neither was accepted, he would block the pipeline. |
| Three-quarters of Sudan's oil is in the south, but most pipelines, refineries and the main port are in the north. | Three-quarters of Sudan's oil is in the south, but most pipelines, refineries and the main port are in the north. |
| Southerners voted for independence in a referendum in January. | Southerners voted for independence in a referendum in January. |
| 'Three alternatives' | 'Three alternatives' |
| President Bashir made his threat in a speech at a rally in Port Sudan - the main oil export terminal - which was broadcast on national television. | President Bashir made his threat in a speech at a rally in Port Sudan - the main oil export terminal - which was broadcast on national television. |
| "I give the south three alternatives for the oil," he said. | "I give the south three alternatives for the oil," he said. |
| "The north is to continue getting its share, or the north gets fees for every barrel that the south sends to Port Sudan," he added. | "The north is to continue getting its share, or the north gets fees for every barrel that the south sends to Port Sudan," he added. |
| "If they don't accept either of these, we're going to block the pipeline." | "If they don't accept either of these, we're going to block the pipeline." |
| The BBC's James Copnall in the captial, Khartoum, says oil accounts for about 98% of the south's income, so any reduction in the oil flow would be disastrous. | |
| The government of South Sudan has floated the idea of building a new pipeline through Kenya or Uganda, but this would take several years, our correspondent adds. | The government of South Sudan has floated the idea of building a new pipeline through Kenya or Uganda, but this would take several years, our correspondent adds. |
| Talks are continuing between northern and southern Sudan about oil and other vital pre-independence issues, including citizenship and the disputed border region of Abyei. | |
| Last month, the northern army seized control of the disputed region of Abyei, but a deal was reached on Monday which will see it withdraw and be replaced by Ethiopian peacekeepers. | |
| Sudan: A country divided Show regions | Sudan: 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. |