Bashir and Kiir to meet friday

Rival leaders of Sudan and South Sudan are expected to meet tomorrow in the Ethiopian capital in the latest attempt to implement stalled oil, security and border deals, officials said yesterday. Sudanese President Omar Bashir and his Southern counterpart Salva Kiir will meet face-to-face at African Union mediated talks for the second time this month to push deals settled after bloody border conflict broke out last year. “We hope to see them develop the momentum towards implementing the existing agreements,” AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said, noting the leaders are also due to attend top level AU security meetings afterwards. Key issues left unresolved after the former civil war foes separated in July 2011 remain, including the contested flashpoint Abyei region. No time has been set for the either the presidential talks or the AU Peace and Security Council meeting, which comes ahead of an AU summit due to start Sunday.