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| Rivals meet to discuss Sudan oil and border plan | Rivals meet to discuss Sudan oil and border plan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have been urged to agree a peace deal to overcome a bitter dispute during talks in Ethiopia. | The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have been urged to agree a peace deal to overcome a bitter dispute during talks in Ethiopia. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for "co-operation and mutual development", and the US said Sudan should accept an African Union border plan already agreed by South Sudan. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for "co-operation and mutual development", and the US said Sudan should accept an African Union border plan already agreed by South Sudan. |
| Tensions over oil and borders have threatened to spark a new conflict. | Tensions over oil and borders have threatened to spark a new conflict. |
| The UN has threatened sanctions if Sunday's talks do not produce a deal. | The UN has threatened sanctions if Sunday's talks do not produce a deal. |
| The Security Council has called for an urgent agreement on a demilitarised border zone. | The Security Council has called for an urgent agreement on a demilitarised border zone. |
| Oil wrangle | Oil wrangle |
| President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, are to meet in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. | |
| Last month, the two countries agreed to re-open their land border after a closure lasting more than a year. | Last month, the two countries agreed to re-open their land border after a closure lasting more than a year. |
| But the border remains unmarked. | But the border remains unmarked. |
| On independence, the South gained two-thirds of the region's oil while Sudan retained the processing and export facilities. | On independence, the South gained two-thirds of the region's oil while Sudan retained the processing and export facilities. |
| In January, the South shut down oil production, accusing Sudan of stealing its oil, and the two countries' economies have been damaged as a result. | In January, the South shut down oil production, accusing Sudan of stealing its oil, and the two countries' economies have been damaged as a result. |
| The BBC's James Copnall in Addis Ababa says the list of unresolved issues is formidable. | The BBC's James Copnall in Addis Ababa says the list of unresolved issues is formidable. |
| However, the hope is that some degree of progress would encourage South Sudan to restart oil production, providing much needed revenue to both countries, he adds. | However, the hope is that some degree of progress would encourage South Sudan to restart oil production, providing much needed revenue to both countries, he adds. |
| Delegations from the two states have already been in Addis Ababa for talks since 4 September. | Delegations from the two states have already been in Addis Ababa for talks since 4 September. |
| Negotiators from both sides say a surprising amount of progress has been made before the arrival of the heads of state. | Negotiators from both sides say a surprising amount of progress has been made before the arrival of the heads of state. |
| Foreign diplomats are cautiously optimistic and exerting gentle pressure on both sides, our correspondent adds. | Foreign diplomats are cautiously optimistic and exerting gentle pressure on both sides, our correspondent adds. |
| Atif Keir, a spokesman for South Sudan's delegation, said talks had continued late into Saturday evening. | Atif Keir, a spokesman for South Sudan's delegation, said talks had continued late into Saturday evening. |
| However, an ambassador quoted by Reuters news agency said it was unlikely the two leaders would agree on borders on Sunday although a deal on resuming oil exports was possible. | However, an ambassador quoted by Reuters news agency said it was unlikely the two leaders would agree on borders on Sunday although a deal on resuming oil exports was possible. |
| "The borders will take forever," the unnamed diplomat said. "They will exchange maps with experts, visit each other, go maybe into arbitration." | "The borders will take forever," the unnamed diplomat said. "They will exchange maps with experts, visit each other, go maybe into arbitration." |
| South Sudan, which is mainly Christian and animist, fought for decades against the mainly Muslim north. | South Sudan, which is mainly Christian and animist, fought for decades against the mainly Muslim north. |
| Sudan: A country divided Show regions | Sudan: A country divided Show regions |
| Both Sudan and the South are reliant on their oil revenues, which account for 98% of South Sudan's budget. But the two countries cannot agree how to divide the oil wealth of the former united state. Some 75% of the oil lies in the South but all the pipelines run north. It is feared that disputes over oil could lead the two neighbours to return to war. | Both Sudan and the South are reliant on their oil revenues, which account for 98% of South Sudan's budget. But the two countries cannot agree how to divide the oil wealth of the former united state. Some 75% of the oil lies in the South but all the pipelines run north. It is feared that disputes over oil could lead the two neighbours to return to war. |
| Although they were united for many years, the two Sudans were always very different. The great divide 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. South Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest. | Although they were united for many years, the two Sudans were always very different. The great divide 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. South Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest. |
| Sudan's arid north is mainly home to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in South Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own languages and traditional beliefs, alongside Christianity and Islam. | Sudan's arid north is mainly home to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in South Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own languages and traditional beliefs, alongside Christianity and Islam. |
| The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In South 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 South 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 the two Sudans, 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 the two Sudans, 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 both countries. The residents of war-affected Darfur and South 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 both countries. The residents of war-affected Darfur and South 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. |