Sudan's president leaves for Juba for talks

Khartoum, Jan 6:

Omar al-Bashir Monday left for Juba to hold talks with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit, Sudan's official news agency reported.

"Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir left for Juba Monday morning, leading a high-level delegation, in an official one-day visit to hold talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and members of his government," Xinhua cited Sudan's official news agency as saying.

Omar al-Bashir is accompanied by Minister of the Presidency Salah Wanasi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Karti, Minister of Defence Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, Minister of Petroleum Mekawi Mohamed Awad and Chief of Intelligence and Security Service Mohamed Atta al-Moula.

On Sunday, Sudan's official radio reported that al-Bashir would travel to Juba to meet with Kiir to "review a solution for the conflict there".

Omar al-Bashir is accompanied by Minister of the Presidency Salah Wanasi

During the past weeks, South Sudan witnessed clashes between two military factions, one descending from the Dinka tribe, to which President Kiir belongs, and the other descending from the Nuer tribe, to which former vice president Riek Machar belongs.

The clashes have left more than 1,000 people dead, over 121,600 people displaced and forcing 63,000 people to take refuge at various UN compounds around the country, according to UN reports.

IANS