Sudan offers olive branch to rebels, releases prisoners
- 10 years ago
East African leaders welcome the South Sudan government's agreement to an immediate ceasefire after nearly two weeks of fighting.
They'd gathered here in Kenya for crisis talks after reports that more than two thousand people died in the world's newest nation.
The fighting -- split along ethnic and political lines -- erupted when South Sudan President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of plotting a coup.
Machar was not at the summit to hear the truce offer or news of the release of eight senior politicians.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, TEDROS ADHANOM, SAYING:
"Welcomed the commitment by the government of the Republic of South Sudan to an immediate cessation of hostilities and called upon Dr Riek Machar and other parties to make similar commitments. Determined that if hostilities do not cease within four days of this communiqué the summit will consider taking further measures."
It's not known what those fu
They'd gathered here in Kenya for crisis talks after reports that more than two thousand people died in the world's newest nation.
The fighting -- split along ethnic and political lines -- erupted when South Sudan President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of plotting a coup.
Machar was not at the summit to hear the truce offer or news of the release of eight senior politicians.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, TEDROS ADHANOM, SAYING:
"Welcomed the commitment by the government of the Republic of South Sudan to an immediate cessation of hostilities and called upon Dr Riek Machar and other parties to make similar commitments. Determined that if hostilities do not cease within four days of this communiqué the summit will consider taking further measures."
It's not known what those fu