Sudan threatens to stop S. Sudan's oil exports

KHARTOUM - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday threatened to stop South Sudan's oil exportation through Sudan's pipelines if Juba continued supporting the rebels of the Revolutionary Front in South Kordofan.

"If there is any support from South Sudan to the agents, traitors and mercenaries in Darfur, South Kordofan or Blue Nile, we will close the pipelines forever," said al-Bashir addressing a gathering in Khartoum Monday following the announcement of the liberation of the strategic town of Abu Karshula in South Kordofan from the rebels of the Revolutionary Front.

"We tell our brothers in South Sudan that we have agreements and we have committed to them, and any violation against any part of these agreements will annihilate them all," noted al-Bashir.

Khartoum and Juba have recently agreed to resume exportation of South Sudan's oil through Sudan's pipelines as part of the implementation of a cooperation agreements signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last year.

Khartoum accuses South Sudan of supporting the rebels of the Revolutionary Front, which is fighting the government in South Kordofan State, while Juba denies the allegation.

On Monday, the Sudanese army announced the liberation of Abu Karshula town in South Kordofan State from the rebels of the Revolutionary Front.

Al-Sawarmy Khalid Saad, Sudanese army spokesman, told Xinhua " the armed forces on Monday afternoon managed to enter Abu Karshula town and the remnants of the enemy fled the area."

In April 2012, the rebel Revolutionary Front Alliance, which brings together major rebel groups in Sudan, attacked Um Rawaba and Abu Karshula areas in North and South Kordofan States.