South Sudan peace talks open in Ethiopia

Peace talks between the government and rebels in South Sudan got under way Friday in Ethiopia, with the aim of halting escalating violence that has pushed the world's newest country toward civil war.

The two delegations have been sent to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, home of the African Union, by President Salva Kiir and the rebels' leader, former Vice President Riek Machar.

The government and rebels are under mounting pressure from African and Western powers to reach a deal to stop clashes that have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced about 200,000.

Mediators for each delegation are working to set out demands on either side for a cessation of violence and the possibility for opening humanitarian corridors for those affected by the violence, officials from the two sides said. They did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the talks.

Delegates from the two parties may engage in a joint dialogue later in the day Friday, they said.

The talks between the warring sides come amid continuing hostilities between their forces.

Military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer told CNN that South Sudan's army was closing in on the flashpoint town of Bor and was 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) outside the city as of Friday morning.

The government forces have gained ground and hope to recapture city later Friday, he said. Bor has been the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the nearly three weeks of violence.

Aguer said Thursday that the Sudan People's Liberation Army was trying to stop the rebel forces from advancing on the capital, Juba, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) away.

Kiir on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for Unity state and for Jonglei state, of which Bor is the capital.

Amid the unrest, the U.S. Embassy in Juba is further reducing its staff, a duty officer at the embassy told CNN Friday. This is not a mass evacuation and essential staff will remain at the embassy, the duty officer said.

U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said the move was "because of the deteriorating security situation" and to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel.

As a result no consular services will be available for U.S. citizens in South Sudan as of Saturday.

"We continue to strongly recommend that U.S. citizens in South Sudan depart immediately," said Harf.

An evacuation flight is being organized for U.S. nationals Friday to the "nearest safe haven country," the U.S. Embassy in Juba said in a notice on its website. Anyone who cannot be on it is advised to find a commercial flight out of the country.

The U.S. ambassador to South Sudan remains in Juba, Harf said, and the United States is " remains deeply and actively committed to supporting regional and international efforts to end the violence in South Sudan."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and senior U.S. officials have been in touch with Kiir and have spoken with regional leaders, Harf said. The United States is also supporting the mediation effort in Ethiopia, she said.

Last month, four U.S. troops were injured when their aircraft came under fire as they took part in an abortive mission to evacuate U.S. citizens from Bor by air.

United Nations: 200,000 people displaced

South Sudan's neighbors, Western governments and the United Nations have been scrambling to stem the latest conflict in the country, which seceded from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war.

The violence has forced about 200,000 people from their homes and affected many hundreds of thousands more indirectly, Toby Lanzer, humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan for the United Nations, said Friday.

The fighting in Bor has led as many as 76,000 to seek sanctuary in Awerial, in South Sudan's Lakes State, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Aid agencies are now providing food and basic healthcare to people there, Lanzer said, but the United Nations is still working to supply clean water and latrines.

He urged all parties in the conflict to spare civilians from the fighting and to allow humanitarian workers safe access to them.

"This is the time to stand with the people of South Sudan and over the coming days and weeks we will do all we can to do just that," Lanzer said.