Sudan infringes deal with South Sudan

Sudanese government announced the infringement of all oil and security agreements signed between Sudan and South Sudan. Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir announced the government would halt oil flow from South Sudan, government spokesperson Ahmed Bilal Osman said at the press conference held on Sunday. Stopping oil exports meant the infringement of the protocol covering nine agreements signed between Sudan and South Sudan. Stating that pumping of petrol would end in 60 days, Osman said the ceasing of oil export wouldn't influence the Sudanese economy much as it wasn't an input for the budget until 2011. Osman also expressed they were ready to back off from their decision if Sudan stopped supporting rebel groups. Bashir had warned at the end of May that he would block the transfer of oil if the South's government in Juba provided assistance to rebels. However, South Sudan denied supporting the rebels. In September of last year, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.