Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — South Sudan has offered to withdraw its army from the border
with its northern neighbor.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir said the new republic was ready to pull out its troops from the disputed border with Sudan. Kiir said the withdrawal marked a condition for the resumption of crude oil exports through Sudan.

“To be able to establish the border monitoring mission, we are
temporarily withdrawing our forces from the immediate border areas,” Kiir said. “This will allow for a demilitarized border zone to be operational.”

In an address on Dec. 31, Kiir did not say when the army would be
withdrawn from the border. The president was scheduled to meet with Sudanese President Omar Bashir this month.

Officials said both countries deployed their militaries 10 kilometers
from the joint border.

They said a further pullout would require
coordination between Juba and Khartoum.

  Juba, Khartoum, Omar Bashir, S. Sudan agrees to withdraw from disputed border to allow oil exports, Salva Kiir