Sudan, South Sudan leaders to meet in Addis Ababa on Friday

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir will hold a summit meeting with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir in Addis Ababa on Friday, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported Wednesday. MENA cited Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Kerti's remarks to the national radio as saying that the summit, sponsored by Ethiopia, aims to press for enforcing a cooperation agreement signed between Khartoum and Juba on Sept. 27 last year. The expected talks between the two leaders will address ways to step up the implementation of the agreement, according to Kerti. South Sudan decided on Tuesday to withdraw troops from the disputed border areas with Sudan in a gesture of goodwill. Kiir said the move will pave the way for the demarcation of a joint demilitarized zone.