South Sudan refuses to withdraw troops from oilfield

The President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, has said he will not withdraw his troops from the Heglig oilfield on its disputed border with Sudan.

Speaking in parliament, Mr Kiir defied calls from the UN and African Union to pull out troops, after three days of clashes with Khartoum.

Meanwhile, Sudanese aircraft are reported to have attacked a regional capital in the South.

The fighting is the worst since South Sudan gained independence last July.

It was triggered after South Sudan seized the town of Heglig, which is internationally recognised as Sudanese territory but which is also claimed by the South. Read More