UN chief appeals to rival Sudans to hold peace summit

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called on the presidents of rival Sudan and South Sudan to meet as soon as possible to head off the growing threat of conflict.

With new clashes reported, "the secretary general remains deeply concerned over the continued fighting along the border between Sudan and South Sudan," said his spokesman Martin Nesirky.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and the South's President Salva Kiir called off a summit planned for Tuesday in Juba because of the rising tensions.

"As both parties have endeavored to convene a presidential summit, the secretary general calls on President Bashir and President Kiir to meet as soon as possible and ensure a quick and fruitful outcome of negotiations," said the UN spokesman.

"He reiterates his calls on the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to immediately cease hostilities and implement the agreements already reached on security, border monitoring" and the disputed territory of Abyei, Nesirky added.

The two states separated in July last year without formally agreeing their joint border or how to share revenues from oil reserves that straddle the frontier.