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| Sudan and South Sudan in fierce oil border clashes | Sudan and South Sudan in fierce oil border clashes |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Clashes have broken out in oil-rich border areas between Sudan and South Sudan in what has been called the biggest confrontation since the countries split last July. | Clashes have broken out in oil-rich border areas between Sudan and South Sudan in what has been called the biggest confrontation since the countries split last July. |
| South Sudan President Salva Kiir said his forces had seized a key oil field - a claim denied by Sudan. | South Sudan President Salva Kiir said his forces had seized a key oil field - a claim denied by Sudan. |
| Sudan state radio says President Omar al-Bashir has put off next week's visit to South Sudan for a summit. | Sudan state radio says President Omar al-Bashir has put off next week's visit to South Sudan for a summit. |
| The countries fought a long civil war before the South seceded from Sudan. | The countries fought a long civil war before the South seceded from Sudan. |
| The clashes were first reported late on Monday and continued for a second day on Tuesday. | The clashes were first reported late on Monday and continued for a second day on Tuesday. |
| Gideon Gatpan, information minister for South Sudan's Unity state, told the BBC a Sudanese plane dropped two bombs 35 kilometres from the town of Bentiu. | Gideon Gatpan, information minister for South Sudan's Unity state, told the BBC a Sudanese plane dropped two bombs 35 kilometres from the town of Bentiu. |
| He said he had no reports of casualties, adding that he believed the real targets were the nearby oil fields inside South Sudan. | He said he had no reports of casualties, adding that he believed the real targets were the nearby oil fields inside South Sudan. |
| The vice-president of the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, Chom Bol, said a further bomb had landed near a camp for his staff inside the Unity oil field - in the South. | The vice-president of the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, Chom Bol, said a further bomb had landed near a camp for his staff inside the Unity oil field - in the South. |
| But a Sudanese armed forces spokesman denied there had been an air raid, saying there had been no fighting so far on Tuesday. | But a Sudanese armed forces spokesman denied there had been an air raid, saying there had been no fighting so far on Tuesday. |
| The nations disagree over several issues, of which the biggest is oil. | The nations disagree over several issues, of which the biggest is oil. |
| The timing of this latest fighting - which South Sudan's military spokesman believes is the "biggest confrontation since independence" - must surely be linked to the summit that was due to take place in early April. | The timing of this latest fighting - which South Sudan's military spokesman believes is the "biggest confrontation since independence" - must surely be linked to the summit that was due to take place in early April. |
| Early reports suggest President Omar al-Bashir will not now travel to Juba. | Early reports suggest President Omar al-Bashir will not now travel to Juba. |
| That would represent a victory for the hard-liners in Khartoum, who have criticised the recent steps taken in the negotiations, and queried why President Bashir should attend the summit. | That would represent a victory for the hard-liners in Khartoum, who have criticised the recent steps taken in the negotiations, and queried why President Bashir should attend the summit. |
| South Sudan believes this latest fighting was triggered by Khartoum, to sabotage the talks. Khartoum puts the blame squarely on Juba. | South Sudan believes this latest fighting was triggered by Khartoum, to sabotage the talks. Khartoum puts the blame squarely on Juba. |
| One analyst in Sudan thinks the dimensions the fighting took actually reveals the tensions within South Sudan's political elite about how to handle Sudan. | One analyst in Sudan thinks the dimensions the fighting took actually reveals the tensions within South Sudan's political elite about how to handle Sudan. |
| It will take time for a more complete picture of the clashes - which an international security source told the BBC reached the oil fields in Heglig - to emerge. | It will take time for a more complete picture of the clashes - which an international security source told the BBC reached the oil fields in Heglig - to emerge. |
| But it is clear that the recent optimism created by negotiations in Addis Ababa and Khartoum has completely collapsed. | But it is clear that the recent optimism created by negotiations in Addis Ababa and Khartoum has completely collapsed. |
| The two leaders had been due to hold talks at next week's summit in Juba, which had been billed as sign of improved relations. | The two leaders had been due to hold talks at next week's summit in Juba, which had been billed as sign of improved relations. |
| Mr Kiir reportedly said his army had repulsed a Sudanese assault, and then taken over the oil fields in the area of Heglig, which is claimed by both sides. | Mr Kiir reportedly said his army had repulsed a Sudanese assault, and then taken over the oil fields in the area of Heglig, which is claimed by both sides. |
| The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says an international security source claims there had been fighting in the oil fields and oil workers were being evacuated. | The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says an international security source claims there had been fighting in the oil fields and oil workers were being evacuated. |
| Our correspondent says it is clear that, despite appeals for calm from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and others, tension between Sudan and South Sudan is still very high. | Our correspondent says it is clear that, despite appeals for calm from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and others, tension between Sudan and South Sudan is still very high. |
| Sudanese officials blamed a rebel group from the western Darfur region - the Justice and Equality Movement - for taking advantage of the situation to attack the Heglig area. A Sudanese army spokesman denied there had been any fighting inside the oil fields. | Sudanese officials blamed a rebel group from the western Darfur region - the Justice and Equality Movement - for taking advantage of the situation to attack the Heglig area. A Sudanese army spokesman denied there had been any fighting inside the oil fields. |
| A spokesman for the South Sudan army said the clashes were the biggest confrontation since independence. | A spokesman for the South Sudan army said the clashes were the biggest confrontation since independence. |
| The fighting prompted Mr Kiir to warn of war. | The fighting prompted Mr Kiir to warn of war. |
| On Monday evening he said: "This morning the [Sudanese] air force came and bombed... areas in Unity state. | On Monday evening he said: "This morning the [Sudanese] air force came and bombed... areas in Unity state. |
| "After this intensive bombardment our forces.... were attacked by the [Sudan army] and militia." | "After this intensive bombardment our forces.... were attacked by the [Sudan army] and militia." |
| Mr Kiir added: "It is a war that has been imposed on us again, but it is [Sudanese] who are looking for it." | Mr Kiir added: "It is a war that has been imposed on us again, but it is [Sudanese] who are looking for it." |
| The South also reported Khartoum had attacked the disputed areas of Jau and Pan Akuach, and Teshwin inside South Sudan. | The South also reported Khartoum had attacked the disputed areas of Jau and Pan Akuach, and Teshwin inside South Sudan. |
| Sudan's army spokesman, Sawarmi Khalid Saad, confirmed fighting in the border area of Sudan's South Kordofan state and the southern Unity state on Monday, without giving the exact locations. | Sudan's army spokesman, Sawarmi Khalid Saad, confirmed fighting in the border area of Sudan's South Kordofan state and the southern Unity state on Monday, without giving the exact locations. |
| Border demarcation | Border demarcation |
| When the South seceded, it took most of the former Sudan's oil fields but all the pipelines still flow north, to the export terminal in Port Sudan. | When the South seceded, it took most of the former Sudan's oil fields but all the pipelines still flow north, to the export terminal in Port Sudan. |
| In January, South Sudan shut down all of its oil fields in a row over the fees Sudan demands to transit the oil. | In January, South Sudan shut down all of its oil fields in a row over the fees Sudan demands to transit the oil. |
| South Sudan depends on oil sales for 98% of state revenues, but pledged not to restart production until a deal was reached. | South Sudan depends on oil sales for 98% of state revenues, but pledged not to restart production until a deal was reached. |
| Parts of the countries' common border also remain in dispute. | Parts of the countries' common border also remain in dispute. |
| In February, the two states agreed to demarcate most of the border within three months, although this would exclude five disputed areas. | In February, the two states agreed to demarcate most of the border within three months, although this would exclude five disputed areas. |
| And the two countries agreed a framework agreement to give their citizens basic freedoms in both nations. | And the two countries agreed a framework agreement to give their citizens basic freedoms in both nations. |
| They agreed to allow citizens of the other state to live, work and own property on either side of the border, and travel between the two nations. | They agreed to allow citizens of the other state to live, work and own property on either side of the border, and travel between the two nations. |
| The UN says about 350,000 southerners have moved to South Sudan since October 2010, after decades living in the north, but some 700,000 southerners remain. | The UN says about 350,000 southerners have moved to South Sudan since October 2010, after decades living in the north, but some 700,000 southerners remain. |