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| Direct talks due to seek end to South Sudan violence | Direct talks due to seek end to South Sudan violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Direct talks aimed at ending weeks of violence in South Sudan are due to begin. | Direct talks aimed at ending weeks of violence in South Sudan are due to begin. |
| They would come a day after delegations from the warring parties met mediators in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. | They would come a day after delegations from the warring parties met mediators in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. |
| Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said the initial meetings had been "fruitful". | Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said the initial meetings had been "fruitful". |
| Continued fighting between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy, Riek Machar, has killed at least 1,000 people since 15 December. | Continued fighting between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy, Riek Machar, has killed at least 1,000 people since 15 December. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Juba says that hopes the talks will lead to a ceasefire in the short term are not high. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Juba says that hopes the talks will lead to a ceasefire in the short term are not high. |
| The US has said it remains committed to ending the violence, despite evacuating most of its embassy staff from Juba. | The US has said it remains committed to ending the violence, despite evacuating most of its embassy staff from Juba. |
| "Even as we draw down our personnel, the United States remains deeply and actively committed to supporting regional and international efforts to end the violence in South Sudan," said State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf. | "Even as we draw down our personnel, the United States remains deeply and actively committed to supporting regional and international efforts to end the violence in South Sudan," said State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf. |
| More than 180,000 people have been displaced in the conflict. Aid workers say many are living without shelter, clean water or sanitation. | More than 180,000 people have been displaced in the conflict. Aid workers say many are living without shelter, clean water or sanitation. |
| The violence has been continuing, with reports of heavy fighting on the outskirts of the rebel-held city of Bor, in Jonglei state, on Friday, | The violence has been continuing, with reports of heavy fighting on the outskirts of the rebel-held city of Bor, in Jonglei state, on Friday, |
| The government said its troops were attempting to recapture both Bor and the city of Bentiu, in the northern state of Unity. At the same time, rebel forces said they were advancing on the capital, Juba. | The government said its troops were attempting to recapture both Bor and the city of Bentiu, in the northern state of Unity. At the same time, rebel forces said they were advancing on the capital, Juba. |
| Ceasefire | Ceasefire |
| Delegates from both sides began arriving in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday but talks were delayed until the full negotiating teams had arrived. | Delegates from both sides began arriving in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday but talks were delayed until the full negotiating teams had arrived. |
| The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in Addis Ababa says the rival teams were in the same hotel but on Friday had only held talks with mediators, who were preparing the ground for direct negotiations. | The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in Addis Ababa says the rival teams were in the same hotel but on Friday had only held talks with mediators, who were preparing the ground for direct negotiations. |
| The Ethiopian minister of foreign affairs said face-to-face talks would follow. | The Ethiopian minister of foreign affairs said face-to-face talks would follow. |
| "We just finished the first round of proxy talks with both negotiating teams of #SouthSudan. Will proceed to direct talks tomorrow," Mr Adhanom said on Twitter on Friday. | "We just finished the first round of proxy talks with both negotiating teams of #SouthSudan. Will proceed to direct talks tomorrow," Mr Adhanom said on Twitter on Friday. |
| Observers have said the discussions are likely to be complicated, as the two sides will have to agree on a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire. | Observers have said the discussions are likely to be complicated, as the two sides will have to agree on a mechanism to monitor any ceasefire. |
| Meanwhile, the US state department said it had ordered a "further drawdown" of its embassy staff in Juba "because of the deteriorating security situation". | Meanwhile, the US state department said it had ordered a "further drawdown" of its embassy staff in Juba "because of the deteriorating security situation". |
| Ambassador Susan Page said on Twitter: "We are not suspending our operations. We are just minimising our presence." | Ambassador Susan Page said on Twitter: "We are not suspending our operations. We are just minimising our presence." |
| However, the state department also said that, from Saturday, it would no longer be providing consular services to US citizens in South Sudan. | However, the state department also said that, from Saturday, it would no longer be providing consular services to US citizens in South Sudan. |
| The UN, however, is flying more staff into Juba to help in the aid effort and to protect civilians' human rights. One official said US staff working for the UN had not been asked to leave. | The UN, however, is flying more staff into Juba to help in the aid effort and to protect civilians' human rights. One official said US staff working for the UN had not been asked to leave. |
| South Sudan is the world's newest state. It was formed in 2011, gaining independence from Sudan after decades of conflict. | South Sudan is the world's newest state. It was formed in 2011, gaining independence from Sudan after decades of conflict. |
| The latest trouble has its roots in tensions that go back long before 2011. But what began as a squabble between former fighters turned politicians has taken on an ethnic dimension. | |
| Politicians' political bases are often ethnic. President Kiir is from the Dinka community while Mr Machar is a Nuer. | Politicians' political bases are often ethnic. President Kiir is from the Dinka community while Mr Machar is a Nuer. |
| Mr Kiir has ruled out any power-sharing arrangement with his rival in the longer term. | Mr Kiir has ruled out any power-sharing arrangement with his rival in the longer term. |