Gulf News reported that the United States urged Sudan and South Sudan to redouble efforts to resolve a crisis over fees for oil transfers and said it supported a proposal by African Union mediators.

Ms Victoria Nuland spokeswoman of State Department came a day after South Sudan ordered a shutdown of its oil production because Sudan has seized oil transiting its territory. Washington supports the African Union High Level Implementation Panel's roadmap for an agreement to resolve the crisis and set a timeline for final oil and financial agreement between the two countries.

Ms Nuland said that "We further urge the parties to redouble their efforts to reach an agreement on permanent oil and financial arrangements as the impending crisis threatens not only the flow of oil but also long-term damage to infrastructure. Therefore, an agreement that addresses the current crisis has become necessary and is in the interests of both countries. Resumption of normal oil shipments was critical to stabilize the economies of both countries.

(Sourced from Gulf News)