South Sudan's leader says Sudan has declared war

Beijing: The president of newly independent South Sudan, in Beijing lobbying for economic and diplomatic support, told China’s president on Tuesday that attacks by rival Sudan amount to a declaration of war on his country. There has yet to be a formal declaration of war by either of the Sudans, and Salva Kiir’s remark, made during talks with President Hu Jintao, signals a ratcheting up of rhetoric between the rival nations which have been teetering on the brink of war. Kiir arrived in China late Monday for a five-day visit. He told Hu the visit comes at a “a very critical moment for the Republic of South Sudan because our neighbour in Khartoum has declared war on the Republic of South Sudan.” South Sudan broke away from its neighbour and became independent last year. The two countries have been unable to resolve disputes over sharing oil revenue and determining a border. Talks broke down this month. [caption id=“attachment_287040” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The president of newly independent South Sudan, in Beijing lobbying for economic and diplomatic support, told China’s president on Tuesday that attacks by rival Sudan amount to a declaration of war on his country. AP”]  [/caption] On Monday, Sudanese warplanes bombed a market and an oil field in South Sudan, killing at least two people after Sudanese ground forces had reportedly crossed into South Sudan with tanks and artillery. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has vowed to press ahead with his military campaign until all southern troops or affiliated forces are chased out of the north. Kiir told Hu that he came to China because of the “great relationship” South Sudan has with China, calling it one of his country’s “economic and strategic partners.” Sudan planes drop 8 bombs on South Sudan An official says Sudan has continued with its aerial bombardment of South Sudan dropping eight bombs overnight. South Sudan’s military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said Tuesday that Sudanese Antonov’s dropped the bombs overnight between 11 pm and 1 am in Panakuac. Aguer says he has not received information on whether there were casualties from the attack because of poor communications. On Monday Sudanese warplanes bombed a market, another town and an oil field in South Sudan’s Unity State, killing at least two people and elevating the risk of an all-out war between the two old enemies. South Sudan seceded from Sudan last year as a result of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed 2 million people. The country’s have been fighting over the sharing of oil revenues and a disputed border. AP