US hails peace deal in South Sudan

The US Friday applauded a ceasefire agreement reached between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, calling for its "full" implementation.

"Today's agreement to immediately stop the fighting in South Sudan and to negotiate a transitional government could mark a breakthrough for the future of South Sudan," Xinhua quoted Secretary of State John Kerry as saying in a statement.

"We urge both leaders to take immediate action now to ensure that this agreement is implemented in full and that armed groups on both sides adhere to its terms," he added.

Kiir and Machar signed the deal after their first face-to-face meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, since conflict broke out in mid-December last year, when Kiir accused Machar, his former deputy, of attempting to orchestrate a military coup against him.

Kerry had visited South Sudan last week to lobby for peace, as tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, and more than 1.2 million others displaced.

In a separate statement, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice also hailed the deal as one that "holds the promise of bringing the crisis to an end".

"We urge President Kiir and Mr. Machar to move swiftly to honor the agreement in word and deed by ending the violence and negotiating in good faith to reach a political agreement that can ensure stability, prosperity and peace for all of South Sudan's people," she said.