The Sudanese government has strongly rejected calls by South Sudan to deploy international peacekeeping troops to Heglig so that Juba can begin to withdraw its forces.

Sudanese foreign minister Al-Obaid Marawih said the army is committed to forcing South Sudan’s to withdraw without any other conditions.

‪South Sudan's UN envoy Agnes Oswaha stressed that Juba supports the UN call to en the fighting and is ready to negotiate with Khartoum.

However she said this could only happen once the outstanding issues between the two countries post secession are resolved.