KHARTOUM, Sudan, April 20 (UPI) -- Sudan said Friday its army was in control of the oil-producing region of Heglig after forces from neighboring South Sudan had withdrawn.
Sudan said it defeated the South Sudan army in Heglig; however South Sudan said the withdrawal was being made to avoid any escalation of the fighting, Sudan Tribune said.
"An orderly withdrawal will commence immediately and shall be completed within three days," said Barnaba Marial Benjamin, information and media minister for the South Sudan government.
South Sudan's Sudan People's Liberation Army had moved into Heglig last week to challenge Sudanese forces they said were using the area as a base for raids into South Sudan.
The BBC said Heglig has been considered to be part of Sudan, although the countries' borders have yet to be formally established.
The withdrawal should be welcomed by diplomats trying to keep the tensions between the neighbors from escalating into a full-scale war, the BBC said. South Sudan's leaders, however, consider Heglig to be part of their newly formed nation, and could have the backing of neighboring Uganda in the event fighting in the area increases.
