Norway urges South Sudan gov't to sign peace deal with rebels

Norway on Tuesday urged South Sudan's government to sign a peace agreement with the country's major rebels and called for all parties to implement it.

"I welcome the progress made at yesterday's summit on South Sudan, with the signature of a peace agreement by the opposition and other South Sudanese parties," Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende was quoted as saying in a press release.

"But I am deeply disappointed that the Government of South Sudan has not yet signed. I strongly urge them to do so immediately and call on all parties to commit fully to implementing the agreement," Brende said.

"After 20 months of fighting, and with 2 million displaced from their homes, further delay beyond 17 August is completely unacceptable," he added.

South Sudan's government and rebels recently resumed peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after mediators availed them until Monday to sign a peace deal ending the violent clashes in the newly-born state.

South Sudan's major rebel group, led by former vice-president Riek Machar, and Secretary General of the ruling party Pagan Amum on Monday signed the peace deal in Addis Ababa while President Salva Kiir refused to sign.

The South Sudan peace process has been supported by regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations, the African Union, China and the troika of Britain, Norway and the United States. Endit