Two Sudans must 'compromise'

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in South Sudan's capital Juba Friday, the highest-ranking US official to visit the world's newest nation which split from former civil war foe Sudan last year. Clinton is due to meet President Salva Kiir and Foreign Minister Nhial Deng Nhial on the three-hour long trip, where she is expected to highlight Washington's concern over the bitter dispute between South Sudan and Sudan. The newly separated nations "remain inextricably linked", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday. Sudan and South Sudan "will need to compromise to close the remaining gaps between them," Clinton said, after meeting South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. The UN deadline for Sudan and South Sudan to reach a settlement over borders, security and oil transportation rights passed on August 2 without the two countries reaching an agreement. the South had offered Sudan $9.10 per barrel from the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) which is exported through Sudan on July 26. This represented a large leap from the under $1 per barrel fee as previously offered but still far under the $36 demanded by Sudan. Dr Mutrif Sadik  from the Sudanese delegation previously stated ""The deadline stated by UN Security Council decree 2046 ending on August 2 will not mean end of the world, it marks a period for both parties to prove their seriousness in reaching an agreement about disputed issues including withdrawing troops from occupied territories, stopping support for rebel movements and determining demilitarized zones." The UN Council has since deferred any possible actions or sanctions to a meeting on August 8.