Enigheden kan vise sig afgørende for, om Sydsudan kan holde uafhængighedsfest i juli uden en krig
Northern and southern Sudan have agreed to set up a demilitarised zone along their border to be jointly patrolled, BBC online reportsTuesday.
The African Union-mediated deal comes 10 days after northern troops seized the disputed border region of Abyei.
Details of the deal are still sketchy, but a BBC reporter say the fact that both sides are talking is positive.
Analysts have feared the Abyei dispute could reignite the civil war between the north and South Sudan, which is due to become independent in July.
The UN Security Council condemned the occupation of Abyei and called for the immediate withdrawal of northern troops from the oil-producing region also claimed by the south.
Under the 2005 peace deal, which ended the 22-year civil war, Abyei was granted special status and a joint administration was set up in 2008 to run the area until a referendum decided its fate.
That vote was due to take place in January, when the south decided to split from the north, but has now been postponed indefinitely.
The demilitarised zone is to include the 2.110 km north-south border. But the African Union statement did not specify when it would come into effect, or how it would be applied in the disputed area of Abyei.
The zone is expected to stretch 10 km from the border, but it is not clear if this is either side of the border, or 10 km in total.
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency says Abyei town has been “virtually emptied” of its population of between 50.000 and 55.000 people, and large numbers of fighters are present on the streets.
