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Sudans 'consult on oil-field force' S Sudan and Sudan 'consult on oil field force'
(35 minutes later)
South Sudan and Sudan discuss joint patrols to protect oil fields in the South threatened by rebels, Sudan says Sudan and South Sudan have begun talks to deploy a joint force to protect oilfields in the South threatened by rebels, Sudan's foreign minister says.
More to follow. The news comes after Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir flew to South Sudan to discuss the unrest there with his counterpart, Salva Kiir.
The conflict pits supporters of Mr Kiir against rebels led by his sacked deputy, Riek Machar.
At least 1,000 people have been killed since violence erupted on 15 December.
The violence started after Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar of attempting a coup - an allegation he denies.
Nearly 200,000 people have been displaced in the conflict, which has taken on ethnic undertones. Mr Kiir is from the majority Dinka community and Mr Machar from the Nuer group.
On Monday, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Karti said Mr Bashir and Mr Kiir were "in consultations about the deployment of a mixed force to protect the oilfields in the South".
South Sudan ended up with most of the oil fields after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011 following decades of conflict.
But it has to export the oil using pipelines through ports in Sudan's territory. The government in Khartoum now fears the pipelines will be disrupted by the fighting in the South.
Separately, the two warring parties in South Sudan have begun direct talks in Ethiopia aiming at a ceasefire. No substantive progress has yet been made.