Talks between South Sudan's government and rebels are due to
start later on Tuesday in attempt to agree to a ceasefire, mediators
say.
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Q&A: South Sudan clashes1 December 2013
Last updated at 15:49 GMT
Talks in South Sudan's history have often been preceded by renewed fighting
Talks between South Sudan's government and rebels are due to start later on Tuesday, mediators say.
The two sides are expected to reach an agreement on the cessation of hostilities, they said.
The talks are the first since conflict erupted two weeks ago
between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy, Riek
Machar.
The meeting will take place in Ethiopia, following mediation efforts by East African leaders.
On Monday, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni threatened the
rebels with military action if they failed to agree to a ceasefire by
the end of Tuesday, and begin talks.
'Rebel gains'
Representatives of Mr Kiir and Mr Machar would meet in the
Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to defuse tensions in South Sudan, the
Ethiopian government said in a statement.
Continue reading the main story
Analysis
James Copnall
BBC News, Juba
By sending a delegation to Addis Ababa, Riek Machar has agreed
to one of the mediation's key demands - but not the other. The rebel
leader told me he would not order his troops to stop fighting. This is
something, he said, that can be discussed in Ethiopia.
Regional leaders had wanted a cessation of hostilities and
talks to begin by 31 December. The attack on Bor was a clear attempt by
Mr Machar to show his military power, which will strengthen his hand in
any negotiations.
He also said his delegation will be led by Rebecca Nyandeng,
the widow of the South Sudanese hero John Garang. As a Dinka, she may
help Mr Machar challenge the allegation that his rebellion is primarily
from his Nuer ethnic group.
It is interesting that Mr Machar is now admitting that the
"white army" - an ethnic militia - is "part of" his army. This will not
do much for his popularity in many parts of South Sudan.
"The two sides are expected to
reach an agreement on the cessation of hostilities and peaceful
resolution of the current political crisis," the statement added.
Earlier, Mr Machar told the BBC he would send a delegation to the talks, claiming his forces had captured the key town of Bor.
But while he had agreed to negotiate, he said he would not order his troops to stop fighting.
Mr Machar had previously demanded 11 detainees accused of being co-conspirators in a coup plan be freed before negotiations.
He denies there was a plot - alleged by Mr Kiir.
The fighting initially broke out more than two weeks ago in
South Sudan's capital, Juba, and has now spread to many parts of the
country.
At least 1,000 people have died and more than 121,600 are believed to have fled their homes.
The situation in Bor is fast-moving, but a government
minister confirmed that the town had fallen to Mr Machar's forces,
reports the the BBC's James Copnall from Juba.
A UN spokesman said Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, had come under attack at day break, not far from the town's UN compound.
Mr Machar said his delegation to talks will be headed by
Rebecca Nyandeng, the widow of John Garang, who led South Sudanese rebel
forces against Khartoum for many years.
Our reporter says as a Dinka she may help Mr Machar challenge
the allegation that his rebellion is primarily from his Nuer ethnic
group.
Mr Machar's forces are a mix of mutinous soldiers loyal to
him and an ethnic militia called the "white army", known for putting
white ash onto their bodies as a kind of war-paint.
Observers say the talks are likely to be complicated, as the two sides will have to agree on a mechanism to monitor a ceasefire.
South Sudan is the world's newest state. It was formed in 2011, gaining independence from Sudan after decades of conflict.
COPY http://www.bbc.co.uk
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