African Union and Somali forces have launched a military operation against what they say is a major training camp for al-Shabab militants outside Somalia's capital. In a statement today, the African Union Mission for Somalia said the operation aims to capture Lanta-Buro village, 40 kilometers west of Mogadishu. According to officials, capturing the village will help secure the capital, which is preparing to host a constituent assembly that aims to end 12 years of transitional rule in Somalia.

Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to unconditionally withdraw their forces for 10 kilometres north and south of the disputed border areas to establish a demilitarized zone on their joint border. 

Sudanese Minister of Interior Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said the two sides have agreed on the agenda concerning cessation of hostilities to create a safe area along the border and withdraw the forces of each party for 10 kilometers from the disputed areas. 

He said the two parties have agreed on the separating line and the monitoring mechanisms and said that overcoming the security barriers would pave the way for resolving the other issues. 

Yesterday, Sudan and South Sudan resumed direct negotiations on outstanding issues at the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the mediation of African Union.

The African Union says Sudan has accepted an AU roadmap for halting violence and resolving issues with neighboring South Sudan.
A statement yesterday said AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping received a letter from Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti saying Khartoum accepted in principle the plan put forth by the AU last week.
The roadmap gives the two countries 90 days to settle their issues or face binding international arbitration. The AU said South Sudan accepted the plan earlier this week.

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution yesterday calling on the two countries to halt fighting and reach an agreement on oil, border and citizenship issues, or face possible sanctions.
Arbitriation:(law) the hearing and determination of a dispute by an impartial referee agreed to by both parties (often used to settle disputes between labor and management)

Sudan today rejected UN Security Council involvement in efforts to end weeks of border clashes with South Sudan that have raised fears of a wider war. While expressing full confidence in the AU's role, Foreign Minister Ali Karti in a statement said, involvement by the Security Council would give priority to a political position which was announced before and has a hidden agenda. 

The African Union itself, in a decision last Tuesday, asked the Security Council to endorse its demand that the two Sudans halt hostilities in 48 hours, start talks within two weeks and complete a peace accord in three months. Meanwhile, there has been more fighting along the volatile border between Sudan and South Sudan.

A spokesman for the South Sudan Army said the troops fought out attempt by the rebels near the town of Malakal. Officials said, several soldiers were wounded. The rebels said, they captured two nearby villages on yesterday.

The U.S. has presented a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council warning Sudan and South Sudan of sanctions if they do not implement an African Union, AU, peace plan to end fighting along their border.

The AU wants the Security Council to back its peace plan, passed earlier this week that calls for the two Sudans to settle their disputes over, citizen oilship and boundary issues within 90 days.

The Security Council has called for an immediate end to fighting along the border, which in recent weeks, has threatened to erupt into an all-out war between the former civil war foes.

Earlier this week, South Sudanese forces withdrew from the disputed oil town of Heglig, which they had earlier seized from Sudanese troops.

Sudan is accused of carrying out an increasing number of bombings in South Sudan, which leaders in Juba say amounts to a declaration of war.