Sudanese troops withdrew from the contested region of Abyei on the border with South Sudan on Tuesday, as demanded by the United Nations, state-linked media reported. "SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces) deployed out of Abyei area this evening and they gave the military compound there to UN peacekeepers," said the Sudanese Media Centre (SMC), which is close to the security apparatus. Diplomatic sources said the pullout involved about 300 troops.
The withdrawal, ending a year-long occupation, came as top negotiators for Sudan and South Sudan met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for their first talks since the two countries came to the brink of all-out war in April.