Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir said: “We will not negotiate with the South’s government, because they don’t understand anything but the language of the gun and ammunition.” He was quoted by the Reuters News agency telling this to his troops on arrival to the oilfield and border town of Heglig, which had been occupied by South Sudanese troops nearly two weeks ago, and which Sudan says it has retaken.

South Sudan – which was bombed by Sudanese jets – says it had retreated from Heglig.