U.N. calls for peace between Sudans

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KHARTOUM, Sudan, May 3 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council called on Sudan and South Sudan to end hostilities and resume peace negotiations within the next two weeks.

The 15-member Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that labeled the situation along the border between Sudan and South Sudan "a serious threat to international peace and security," the United Nations said Wednesday in a release.

South Sudan became independent in July, six years after the north and south signed a peace agreement, ending decades of warfare within Sudan. However, tensions have grown recently along the border of the two nations, threatening peace negotiations, the Security Council said.

The tension arose after South Sudanese forces moved into the oil-producing region of Heglig in Sudan's South Kordofan state and Sudan's bombardment of South Sudanese territory.

The Security Council called for a cease-fire and for both nations to withdraw all of their armed forces to their side of the border.

Both countries must then engage in peace negotiations, which must be concluded within three months, the United Nations said.

The council "expresses its intention, in the event that any or all of the parties have not complied with the decisions set forth in this resolution, to take appropriate additional measures" if the countries do not comply.