afrol News, 12 December - The leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Salva Kiir, has guaranteed the return of his movement to the government of national unity.

The announcement broke off a two-month deadlock between the Sudanese government and the SPLM over the deployment of troops government troops in some southern states and ownership of the oil-rich Abyei state.

And in protest, the SPLM quitted the unity government, accusing al-Bashir government of not respecting the 2005 comprehensive peace accord that nailed the two decade-long conflict between the North and South Sudan. The conflict claimed the lives of 1.5 million people as well as displaced several others.

After a late night meeting between Mr Kiir and President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday, the SPLM had agreed to take its seats in the unity government. Kiir holds the post of Vice President in the unity government.

Both leaders agreed on majority of the issues that fuelled the crisis, including the demarcation of the border between the North and South Sudan. They also agreed on funding for a census in 2011, withdrawal of Sudan Armed Forces from some key Southern regions as well as relaunch a commission that manages the sharing of oil proceeds. Troop withdrawal will start on 15 December and run through 9 January.

Sudanese leaders are yet to settled the dust around the ownership over the Abyei state, but promised to begin consultation on the issue soon.

Kiir and al-Bashir agreed that the government will move to the Southern capital of Juba every three months.

Most Sudanese want the two sides to iron out their difference and avoid a bloodbath in the country. Pagan Amun, the SPLM Secretary General, allayed such fears since most of the contentious issues have been resolved.

He said with the exception of Abyei issue, the two sides had resolved all the outstanding crisis.

The unity government also agreed to assist in the development of road links between the North and South. The roads had been destroyed by the conflict.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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