Thursday, May 10, 2012

Sudan's President Bashir says no talks with South Sudan on oil before resolving security dispute - @Reuters

Source: reuters // Reuters

KHARTOUM, May 10 (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, locked in a conflict with South Sudan, said on Thursday that unless the two sides resolved a dispute over security, there would be no talks over oil, trade or citizneship.

"In the coming negotiations, if we don't solve the security problems ... there will be no talk over any other clause - not oil, not trade, not citizenship, not Abyei, or any other file," Bashir told a group of oil and mining industry workers.

A month of escalating border clashes between the two sides prompted the African Union and the Security Council to pass resolutions demanding the two sides cease fire and resume talks, but no date has yet been announced for the negotiations. (Writing by Yara Bayoumy)