VOA News: Africa: S. Sudan, Sudan Clash Along Tense, Disputed Border

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

S. Sudan, Sudan Clash Along Tense, Disputed Border Mar 27th 2012, 11:26 South Sudan is accusing Sudan of launching a second day of airstrikes on oil-rich territory along their disputed border, one day after a rare direct military confrontation between the two rivals. South Sudanese Information Minister Gideon Gatpan says the north's Antonov fighter planes dropped at least two bombs early Tuesday on oil fields in the south's Unity state. The violence comes a day after both sides accused the other's soldiers of crossing the tense, poorly marked border separating the two countries. Both sides claimed they were acting in self-defense and declared victory following the fighting. Casualty figures are not known. Summit suspended After the clashes on Monday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced he was suspending an April 3 summit with his South Sudanese counterpart, President Salva Kiir, that had been scheduled to discuss disputes about the border and oil revenues. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is "deeply concerned" about the clashes, and urged both sides to "peacefully address their differences." He also urged Kiir and Bashir to continue with the proposed April talks. South Sudan said the fighting began Monday when Khartoum carried out a ground attack and a series of intense aerial bombardments in Unity state. Khartoum countered by blaming the south for attacking its position in the oil-rich border region of Heglig, which is claimed by both countries. Lingering demarcation issue Since South Sudan's independence in July, the two neighbors have not been able to agree on the demarcation of their 1,800 kilometer border or how much South Sudan should pay to export oil through Sudan. The south took over most Sudanese oil production but is refusing to pay what it considers excessive transit fees to use northern pipelines.  The landlocked south needs the pipelines to send the oil to international markets. The dispute prompted South Sudan to shut down all oil production, a move analysts say is likely to hurt both countries financially. The sides are also in disagreement over the status of southerners living in the north, and regularly accuse each other of supporting the other's rebel groups. Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. Media files: sudan_south_sudan_300_map.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) cms2.jpeg

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