Sudanese oil talks breakdown

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- There's no prospect of reaching an agreement with Sudan over oil because the Khartoum government continues to steal oil, an official from South Sudan said.

South Sudan in January decided to stop sending crude oil through infrastructure to the Red Sea as retaliation for the alleged theft of oil revenue by the government in Khartoum.

A week's worth of talks in Ethiopia, mediated by the African Union, ended Wednesday without an agreement, said Pagan Amum, South Sudan's lead negotiator.

"There is no prospect of reaching an agreement on oil because the government of Sudan has taken a position which is hostile, of stealing our oil, robbing it at gunpoint," he was quoted by Voice of America as saying. "They are continuing to steal more oil from South Sudan."

Amum said South Sudan could build a pipeline to Port Sudan in less than a year.

South Sudan gained control over much of the oil reserves in the region when it became independent in July. Sudan, however, controls existing export infrastructure.

An official from Khartoum said South Sudan made a "strategic mistake" with its decision to clamp down on oil production.

There is another round of talks scheduled for next week in Ethiopia.