Sudan demands stall oil production: S. Sudan

Kiir, speaking Tuesday during the ceremonial laying of a foundation stone of a new oil refinery in Upper Nile state, said that former civil war enemies in Khartoum wanted Juba to denounce old comrades still fighting inside Sudan.

“We were supposed to restart oil production on Nov. 15,” Kiir told crowds. “Khartoum is looking for an excuse not to restart the oil.

“Suddenly Khartoum changed their minds, saying that we must denounce the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile first,” he said, referring to Sudan's civil war border regions, where renewed conflict broke out over a year ago.

Sudan has repeatedly accused South Sudan of supporting the insurgent Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), charges denied by both rebels and the South, although analysts widely believe Khartoum's claims.

In January, South Sudan cut off oil production after accusing Sudan of stealing its crude, even though the activity provides about 98 percent of the South's government revenue, and damaged the economies of both countries.

The ten-month oil shut-down, sparked by furious arguments with Sudan, escalated into border conflict in April, but the two sides later signed deals to restart the oil.

Sudan's foreign ministry spokesman Al-Obeid Meruh told AFP on Monday that Khartoum had written to Juba to say it was ready to receive the South's oil.

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