Khartoum, Sep 5

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir has issued directives to maintain the flow of oil from South Sudan through northern ports after talks with the new country's leader Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Sudan will now abide by all agreements reached with the South after its independence in 2011, Bashir said. 

Earlier, he had said that Sudan would close its pipelines to oil from South Sudan by Friday, accusing its neighbour of backing rebels.

South Sudan denied the charge and in turn accused Sudan of destabilising it.

South Sudan took with it nearly three-quarters of Sudan's oil production when it declared independence following decades of conflict.

By:IANS

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