BREAKING NEWS: South Sudan announces immediate withdrawal from Heglig as SAF claims victory April 20, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan said on Friday that it will withdraw troops from oil-producing area of Heglig in three days, Reuters has reported, citing the country’s information and media minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin.
"The Republic of South Sudan announces that SPLA troops have been ordered to withdraw from Panthou (Heglig)," as ordered by President Salva Kiir, Benjamin told reporters in the capital Juba. According to Reuters, Benjamin told reporters that the withdrawal will be completed within “three days.” "An orderly withdrawal will commence immediately, and shall be completed within three days," he said. The sudden development follows reports of heavy fighting on Friday on the outskirts of Heglig between Sudanese forces and the SPLA which has been occupying the area since last week. Meanwhile, Khartoum has announced that the Sudanese Army (SAF) defeated SPLA troops in the area. The head of the security and defense committee at the Sudanese parliament, Kamal Ubayd, told Al-Jazzera TV on Friday that SAF forces had expelled South Sudanese troops from Heglig and are now controlling the entire area. More details to follow. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
