Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan exchange views of common concern

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday received message from his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit in dealing with the developments in South Sudan and issues of mutual concern. "I have delivered a message from South Sudan President Salva Kiir to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in dealing with bilateral relations and development of the situations in South Sudan," Telar Ring Deng, South Sudanese presidential advisor for legal affairs, told reporters after meeting with al-Bashir in Khartoum Sunday. He said he conveyed thanks and appreciation of South Sudan government and people to the Sudanese government and people for assisting the South Sudanese citizens who fled the violence in the south. On Dec. 15 last year, violent clashes broke out in South Sudan when Kiir's government claimed that soldiers loyal to former vice- president Riek Machar, who was dismissed last July, staged an attempted coup. Eleven pro-rebel leaders were detained by the government for their alleged role in the coup attempt. Earlier Thursday, The government led by South Sudanese President Kiir and rebels loyal to former Vice President Machar agreed to end the deadly fighting that claimed thousands of lives and displaced a million people. The agreement on cessation of hostilities between the two South Sudanese rivals was reached in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, under the patronage of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD).