Heglig under Sudan control: Defence minister

People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the mercenaries,” the Sudanese defence minister said in a statement.  
“The SAF managed to enter Heglig at 2:30 p.m. (1130 GMT),” he added. The minister noted that the army had used their “ability, vision and wisdom” to prevent remaining oil facilities from being destroyed in the fighting.
He said that the Sudanese army would continue the campaign against “remnants of the proxies,” referring to Sudanese rebels operating in North Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, who Khartoum said had taken part in the attacks by the SPLA on Heglig as well as other border areas.
“The SAF will continue the process with determination to pursue the remnants of the proxies wherever they go, and we are ready to complete the task until our people are relieved,” the minister said.
Earlier yesterday, South Sudanese government ordered its army to immediately withdraw from Heglig oil field, noting that the SPLA troops would complete the withdrawal within three days.
Meanwhile, China considers South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s visit to be an opportunity, and China will continue making efforts to ease tensions between Sudan and South Sudan, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman yesterday.
“The current situation is that President Kiir will come to China for the visit as scheduled,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin at a regular news briefing.
Earlier this week, Liu announced that the South Sudan leader will pay a state visit to China from April 23 to 28 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
“China will continue to play its constructive role on the issues between Sudan and South Sudan during the (Kiir’s) visit,” Liu said at Friday’s briefing.
“The Chinese side is concerned with the escalation of tensions between the South and the North,” Liu said, adding that China hopes that the two sides will resolve their disputes through negotiation and consultation.
China urges both sides to keep their common interests and the overall situation of regional stability in mind, and take measures to ease tensions as soon as possible.
The spokesman said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety of the citizens and organisations of both nations and demands the two sides take protective measures.
During the briefing, Liu also reminded Chinese nationals and organisations in the two countries to keep alert and ensure their own safety. “As far as I know, those Chinese people in the tension-afflicted areas have been accounted for,” said the spokesman, “They are safe.” — Xinhua.