Sudan, South Sudan leaders attempt to diffuse tensions amid fresh clashes

Rival leaders of Sudan and South Sudan were scheduled to meet on Friday in Ethiopia to push for progress on stalled economic, oil and security deals to ease tensions between the former civil war foes.

The meeting between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his Southern counterpart Salva Kiir was scheduled despite accusations from Juba on Thursday that Khartoum had launched aerial and ground attacks inside South Sudan.

The summit of the leaders, whose nations are both struggling with economic austerity cuts following Juba's halting of oil exports through Sudan's pipelines, is the latest of repeated rounds of African Union-mediated talks.