Sudan dismisses South Sudan's accusations

KHARTOUM - Sudanese government on Wednesday dismissed South Sudan's accusations that the north has been stealing oil from the south as "political talk" which does not help resolve their disagreements.

"The south's accusations of the north stealing oil are mere irresponsible political talk and does not help in achieving any progress in this issue," spokesman of Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Al-Obaid Ahmed Mirawih told reporters, adding that "Sudan has notified oil companies to transfer 23 percent of the produced oil, besides notifying export companies."

He further acknowledged that Sudan has held two South Sudanese oil ships for failing to pay Sudanese ports fees.

He stressed that Sudan does not want continuation of dispute over the oil issue, and hopes to move to negotiate other aspects of difference.

Mirawih noted that South Sudanese government has rejected the temporary solution proposed by the African Union to pay a primary sum to Sudan until a settlement is reached regarding the arrears of transit fees concerning South Sudan's oil exports.

The most recent round of negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan stalled in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa after the south insisted that Khartoum should return all the amounts of oil which it took for using its pipelines and stop what the south termed as "stealing South Sudan's oil."

South Sudan's delegation to the Addis Ababa negotiations, led by Pagan Amum, notified African Union's mediator Thabo Mbeki that they won't sit at the negotiation table, in protest against Khartoum's decision to deduct from the south's oil to make up for transit fees.

South Sudan's delegation added that they would only negotiate if Khartoum stopped confiscating oil and returned the deducted oil which amounted to 1,400,000 barrels.

After the separation with South Sudan in July 2011, the north lost two thirds of its oil resources, while the two sides have not agreed on the oil-sharing issue yet.