Sudan, South Sudan to pull out troops from Abyei - UN Published duration 9 September 2011

image caption UN peacekeepers have been tasked with monitoring the withdrawal of northern and southern forces

Sudan and newly independent South Sudan have agreed to withdraw their troops from the disputed town of Abyei by the end of the month, the UN says.

The deputy head of UN peacekeeping, Edmond Mulet, says the deal was brokered by the African Union at talks in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

The move is expected to ease border tensions between Khartoum and Juba, which both claim Abyei.

A referendum planned in Abyei on its future status was never held.

"They [Sudan and South Sudan] have agreed that between 11 September and 30 September there is going to be a redeployment or withdrawal of the troops," Mr Mulet told reporters on Thursday.

He added that Khartoum had originally said it would only pull out its troops when an administration was in place in Abyei, but had now dropped that condition.

Mr Mulet was speaking after briefing the UN Security Council in New York on the issue.

Northern forces occupied Abyei in May, raising fears of a renewal of Sudan's 21-year north-south conflict.

After the offensive, more than 100,000 people fled the territory, mainly to South Sudan, which gained independence on 9 July.