South Sudan says it will pull its forces from the Heglig oil fields, which it seized from Sudan 10 days ago, triggering fears of war.
A government spokesman told reporters Friday that President Salva Kiir has ordered the withdrawal of troops from Heglig, also known as Panthou.
<!--IMAGE-RIGHT-->Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said an orderly withdrawal will commence immediately and will be completed within three days.
South Sudan has come under increasing international pressure to leave Heglig, which was under the control of Sudan until April 10. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon renewed the pressure Thursday, calling the presence of South Sudanese forces in Heglig an "infringement on the sovereignty of Sudan and a clearly illegal act."
Benjamin said the south considers Heglig to be part of its territory and wants the status of that area and other contested regions to be determined by international arbitration.
Earlier this week, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir threatened to go to war with South Sudan and teach the south's government a "lesson by force."
The two Sudans have been unable to resolve disputes over borders, oil, and citizenship stemming from the south's independence last July.
Chief disputes include the future of the oil-producing Abyei region and the sharing of oil revenue. The south took over three-fourths of Sudan's oil fields when it separated, but uses northern pipelines for export.
The countries have been fighting along their disputed border, but Princeton Lyman, U.S. special envoy to Sudan, said Thursday that both sides want to avoid a larger conflict.
"In the discussions I have had in both Khartoum and Juba, I can say with confidence that virtually everyone I have talked to has said, 'Look, we don't want to go to all-out war with the other, we need to find a way out,'" Lyman said.
Before separation, north and south Sudan fought a 21 year civil war that eventually led to southern autonomy and independence.
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