The Secretary General of the SCC says political parties in the country must agree on the sharing of oil wealth, before a 2011 referendum on the possible secession of the south.

* Clashes kill 13 in tense oil-rich border region
* Violence escalating ahead of April elections

Large discrepancies persist between the oil production data published by the government of Sudan and those published by the main Chinese oil company operating in the country, Global Witness says six months after the publication of its report which first exposed the gaps.

Please find Pdf of full press release below.

Sudan executed two people convicted of killing four oil workers, two of them Chinese. The two were found guilty in 2004 of killing the workers and looting their vehicle in Heglig in Sudan's South Kordofan state.

Global Witness says large discrepancies persist between the oil production data published by the government of Sudan and those published by CNPC, with which Petronas operates several blocks. The figures published by the government are significantly lower, raising fears that tensions could be fuelled between the North and South which share the proceeds.

The leadership of South Sudan has downplayed fears of fresh conflict over oil reserves within its territory after the planned 2011 referendum.

Letter by Global Witness stressing that that increased transparency in the oil sector is also
imperative to avoid a return to violence.

Archbishop Daniel Deng urges China to play a positive role in Sudan: instead of pursuing a damaging policy of economic gain in Suda, Beijing should use its influence to help ease rising tension ahead of elections.

TIAA-Cref has become the first large US asset manager to sell stakes in four Asian oil groups over concerns about human rights abuses in Sudan. The move will increase pressure on other investors to sever ties with those companies.

Investors Against Genocide chairman Eric Cohen says royalty payments by Chinese oil companies are funding the Khartoum government.