South Sudan opponents agree to peace talks

JUBA, South Sudan –  The United States special envoy to South Sudan says the country's warring factions have agreed to attend peace talks in Ethiopia.

Donald Booth told The Associated Press Tuesday that the commitment of both sides is "a first but very important step to achieving a cessation of hostilities" and the beginning of negotiations to resolve the crisis in the world's newest country.

South Sudan has been gripped by violence since Dec. 15 when a fight among presidential guards later spiraled into ethnically-based violence across the country.

Under a regional bloc known as IGAD, Ethiopia has been playing a leading role in trying to get South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his political rival, ousted Vice President Riek Machar, to the negotiating table amid continuing hostilities between both sides.