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Direct talks on South Sudan ceasefire delayed | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Hopes of a quick agreement to end weeks of violence in South Sudan have been dashed, after talks in Ethiopia between the warring parties were delayed. | |
Teams representing President Salva Kiir and sacked deputy Riek Machar were due to meet face-to-face on Saturday. No new timings have been announced. | |
Heavy fighting is continuing in South Sudan. At least 1,000 people have been killed since 15 December. | |
More than 180,000 people have been displaced in the conflict. | |
Aid workers say many of them are living without shelter, clean water or sanitation. | |
The BBC's Alastair Leithead, in the South Sudan capital, Juba, says that hopes the talks in Addis Ababa will lead to a ceasefire in the short term are not high. | |
There are reports of heavy fighting on the outskirts of the rebel-held city of Bor, in Jonglei state. | |
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 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. |
UN staff | |
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. |
However, our correspondent says it has been confirmed that no direct talks will take place on Saturday. | |
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. |
The UN is flying more staff into Juba to help in the aid effort and to protect civilians' human rights. | |
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. | 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. |