UNITED NATIONS, March 29 (UPI) -- The conflict between the Sudanese and South Sudanese militaries appears to be subsidizing as both sides head to the negotiating table, a U.N. official said.
South Sudanese officials accused the Sudanese military of attacking the oil-rich state of Unity this week amid simmering tensions between both former civil-war foes.
Eduardo del Buey, deputy spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said Sudanese officials agreed to attend multilateral talks in Ethiopia in exchange for security assurances from South Sudan.
"While the exact situation on the ground still needs to be confirmed, at the moment the situation appears to be de-escalating," he said in a statement.
South Sudan gained independence in July as part of a peace agreement reached in 2005. Border conflicts, ethnic skirmishes and disputes over oil have threatened to derail the peace deal.
The independent Sudan Tribune reports that both sides blame the other for the latest violence though both governments have stated they are averse to full-scale war.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is in Baghdad attending a summit for the Arab League.
