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| South Sudan's Kiir and Machar meet in Ethiopia | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar are meeting for the first time since mass violence began in December. | |
| The meeting is being held in Addis Ababa, and both men first held separate talks with Ethiopia's prime minister. | |
| The conflict in the world's newest state has left thousands dead and more than one million homeless. | The conflict in the world's newest state has left thousands dead and more than one million homeless. |
| The UN has accused both sides of crimes against humanity, including mass killings, sexual slavery and gang-rape. | The UN has accused both sides of crimes against humanity, including mass killings, sexual slavery and gang-rape. |
| "Widespread and systematic" atrocities were carried out in homes, hospitals, mosques, churches and UN compounds, a UN report said on Thursday, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. | "Widespread and systematic" atrocities were carried out in homes, hospitals, mosques, churches and UN compounds, a UN report said on Thursday, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. |
| An estimated five million people are in need of aid, the UN says. | An estimated five million people are in need of aid, the UN says. |
| A cessation of hostilities deal was signed by both sides in January but failed to bring an end to the violence. | A cessation of hostilities deal was signed by both sides in January but failed to bring an end to the violence. |
| A 30-day truce was supposed to have taken effect on Wednesday. | A 30-day truce was supposed to have taken effect on Wednesday. |
| 'Step forward' | 'Step forward' |
| The US has said it is not optimistic that Friday's one-day talks will produce an immediate result. | The US has said it is not optimistic that Friday's one-day talks will produce an immediate result. |
| Mr Machar arrived on Thursday in preparation for the talks in Addis Ababa, while President Kiir flew in on Friday. | |
| Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn agreed to mediate the talks proposed by US Secretary of State John Kerry after his visit to the region last week. | Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn agreed to mediate the talks proposed by US Secretary of State John Kerry after his visit to the region last week. |
| Discussions are expected to centre on ending the fighting and power sharing. | Discussions are expected to centre on ending the fighting and power sharing. |
| South Sudan ministers have said the government's priority is to stop the violence and discuss a "transitional process". | South Sudan ministers have said the government's priority is to stop the violence and discuss a "transitional process". |
| However, Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that a transitional government would not be discussed, and that Mr Kiir would remain leader until the 2015 elections. | However, Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that a transitional government would not be discussed, and that Mr Kiir would remain leader until the 2015 elections. |
| The release of and dropping of treason charges against four top South Sudanese politicians is said to have paved the way for talks. | The release of and dropping of treason charges against four top South Sudanese politicians is said to have paved the way for talks. |
| The men's release had been a key demand of the rebels. | The men's release had been a key demand of the rebels. |
| "I don't believe that [the two sides] will reach an agreement straight away," US Ambassador to South Sudan Susan Page said during a radio call-in show. | "I don't believe that [the two sides] will reach an agreement straight away," US Ambassador to South Sudan Susan Page said during a radio call-in show. |
| "But if they can agree on a broad-based process on how to resolve the conflict, end the fighting, that would be a step forward." | "But if they can agree on a broad-based process on how to resolve the conflict, end the fighting, that would be a step forward." |
| Sanctions threat | Sanctions threat |
| Ms Page said that people wanted peace and could not understand why the country should have descended into war barely three years since independence. | Ms Page said that people wanted peace and could not understand why the country should have descended into war barely three years since independence. |
| Correspondents say far-reaching international sanctions could be imposed against both sides if there is no discernible progress in reaching an agreement. | Correspondents say far-reaching international sanctions could be imposed against both sides if there is no discernible progress in reaching an agreement. |
| The violence began when President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Mr Machar, of plotting a coup. | The violence began when President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Mr Machar, of plotting a coup. |
| Mr Machar denied the allegation, but then marshalled a rebel army to fight the government. | Mr Machar denied the allegation, but then marshalled a rebel army to fight the government. |
| The battle assumed ethnic overtones, with Mr Machar relying heavily on fighters from his Nuer ethnic group and Mr Kiir from his Dinka community. | The battle assumed ethnic overtones, with Mr Machar relying heavily on fighters from his Nuer ethnic group and Mr Kiir from his Dinka community. |
| The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan, which became the world's newest state after seceding from Sudan in 2011. | The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan, which became the world's newest state after seceding from Sudan in 2011. |
| However, they have struggled to contain the conflict, and the government has accused the UN mission of siding with the rebels. | However, they have struggled to contain the conflict, and the government has accused the UN mission of siding with the rebels. |
| It denies the allegation. | It denies the allegation. |
| South Sudan gained independence in 2011, breaking way from Sudan after decades of conflict between rebels and the Khartoum government. | South Sudan gained independence in 2011, breaking way from Sudan after decades of conflict between rebels and the Khartoum government. |
| It remains one of the world's poorest countries. | It remains one of the world's poorest countries. |