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| Kerry says South Sudan’s president agrees to peace talks with rival | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudanese President Salva Kiir agreed Friday to attend peace talks with his rival in a political and military conflict that has killed thousands and threatened the future of the world’s newest nation, U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said. | |
| Kiir agreed to meet as soon as next week with rebel leader Riek Machar in the nearby Ethiopian capital, Kerry said, following a meeting at Kiir’s office that ended with a friendly handshake. Kiir, trademark cowboy hat in place, waved from the top of the stairs as Kerry left. | |
| Kiir also pledged to end fighting under terms of a four-month-old cease-fire that never took hold, Kerry said, and accepted in principle that South Sudan should institute a transitional government to bridge the current political gulf and hold new elections. | Kiir also pledged to end fighting under terms of a four-month-old cease-fire that never took hold, Kerry said, and accepted in principle that South Sudan should institute a transitional government to bridge the current political gulf and hold new elections. |
| “I made it clear to him that he has to do everything in his power to end violence and also begin the process of national dialogue,” Kerry told reporters. | “I made it clear to him that he has to do everything in his power to end violence and also begin the process of national dialogue,” Kerry told reporters. |
| Kiir and Machar have promised in the past to end fighting that began in December when Machar bolted his post as vice president under Kiir. There was no immediate word from Kiir’s office about the assurances Kerry said he was given that this time will be different. | Kiir and Machar have promised in the past to end fighting that began in December when Machar bolted his post as vice president under Kiir. There was no immediate word from Kiir’s office about the assurances Kerry said he was given that this time will be different. |
| Thousands have died in since the split in the South Sudanese government quickly became open warfare between government forces and rebels. The conflict has increasingly taken on ominous ethnic and sectarian tones, pitting Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group against Machar’s Nuer people. | Thousands have died in since the split in the South Sudanese government quickly became open warfare between government forces and rebels. The conflict has increasingly taken on ominous ethnic and sectarian tones, pitting Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group against Machar’s Nuer people. |
| Kerry plans to speak to Machar by phone to issue the invitation to talks brokered by Ethiopia’s prime minister. Kerry said Machar had previously pledged to attend such talks, but there was no immediate word on whether he would now agree to sit down with Kiir. | Kerry plans to speak to Machar by phone to issue the invitation to talks brokered by Ethiopia’s prime minister. Kerry said Machar had previously pledged to attend such talks, but there was no immediate word on whether he would now agree to sit down with Kiir. |
| “I told President Kiir that the choices that both he and the opposition face are stark and clear,” Kerry said. “The unspeakable human costs that we have seen over the course of the last months, and that could even grow if they fail to sit down, are unacceptable,” Kerry said. | “I told President Kiir that the choices that both he and the opposition face are stark and clear,” Kerry said. “The unspeakable human costs that we have seen over the course of the last months, and that could even grow if they fail to sit down, are unacceptable,” Kerry said. |
| Kerry flew to the ragtag capital in a heavy military transport plane and under tight security. Deteriorating security throughout the country led to an evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in January, and it is now operating with reduced staff. | Kerry flew to the ragtag capital in a heavy military transport plane and under tight security. Deteriorating security throughout the country led to an evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in January, and it is now operating with reduced staff. |
| “Before the promise of South Sudan’s future is soaked in more blood, President Kiir and the opposition must work immediately for the cessation of hostilities,” Kerry said. | “Before the promise of South Sudan’s future is soaked in more blood, President Kiir and the opposition must work immediately for the cessation of hostilities,” Kerry said. |
| He repeated the threat of U.S. economic sanctions if the fighting does not stop. | He repeated the threat of U.S. economic sanctions if the fighting does not stop. |
| A day earlier in Ethiopia, Kerry said he and East African leaders had agreed on the outline of an African military force that could separate the warring factions. | A day earlier in Ethiopia, Kerry said he and East African leaders had agreed on the outline of an African military force that could separate the warring factions. |
| A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said the troops would be under U.N. command and that the United Nations Security Council would have to approve a new, larger mandate than the one held by the current force of several thousand peacekeepers. | A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said the troops would be under U.N. command and that the United Nations Security Council would have to approve a new, larger mandate than the one held by the current force of several thousand peacekeepers. |
| The official requested anonymity because the agreement is not yet complete. | The official requested anonymity because the agreement is not yet complete. |
| The military force would number 2,500 initially and could be in place within weeks, Kerry said Friday. | The military force would number 2,500 initially and could be in place within weeks, Kerry said Friday. |
| Even at full strength of 5,500, however, it is not clear whether that force would be large or strong enough to stop massacres and targeted killings like those the United Nations has blamed on both sides. | Even at full strength of 5,500, however, it is not clear whether that force would be large or strong enough to stop massacres and targeted killings like those the United Nations has blamed on both sides. |
| Both sides have also been implicated in rape and the recruitment of child soldiers. | Both sides have also been implicated in rape and the recruitment of child soldiers. |
| The United States was instrumental in helping South Sudan gain independence from Sudan in 2011 and has spent nearly $500 million to support the new government over the last two years. | The United States was instrumental in helping South Sudan gain independence from Sudan in 2011 and has spent nearly $500 million to support the new government over the last two years. |
| Last week, the U.N. Security Council also raised the threat of sanctions against both sides. | Last week, the U.N. Security Council also raised the threat of sanctions against both sides. |