KHARTOUM, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's rivals on Tuesday vowed in a two-week peace talks to work to achieve peace and end conflicts.
The peace talks, held in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, are under the patronage of the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir vowed to work to achieve peace in his country on a procedural session of the peace talks, which was attended by South Sudan's government, the main opposition group and representatives of other opposition groups.
Kiir said he hopes that they are "moving to the right direction," while South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar reiterated commitment to ensure settlement of the conflict, saying he is "happy that we have had two engagements" with President Kiir.
On June 21, the Intergovernment Authority on Development (IGAD) in Africa said that the rivaling South Sudanese parties would hold a round of talks in Khartoum, after meeting in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The talks would focus on issues including governance, security arrangements and rehabilitation of South Sudan economy through bilateral cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan, it added.
South Sudan has been suffering from a civil war since December 2013 between the forces loyal to Kiir and his former Vice President Machar.
