ADDIS ABABA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The African Union urged Sudan's northern and southern leaders on Tuesday to stop dragging their feet over implementing a peace deal to end Africa's longest civil war.
Factions from the north and south reached a peace agreement in 2005 but leaders have accused each other of obstructing critical parts of it and fighting has broken out twice between the two armies.
"The AU notes with concern the delay in the implementation of the crucial Comprehensive Peace Agreement that includes among others, the demarcation of the north-south border, the release of census and full deployment of forces," the AU Peace and Security Council said in a statement.
It urged the parties to move swiftly to resolve the issues through continuing dialogue.
The accord gave southerners a share in Sudan's oil revenues and their own semi-autonomous government. They will also hold an independence referendum in 2011.
The deal's implementation has been largely neglected by the international community, which has focused on a separate conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region.
But fighting between northern and southern troops over a contested oil-producing area has raised fears that Sudan could be heading back to civil war.
Analysts say demarcating the north-south border where much of Sudan's oil lies is crucial.
The AU also urged the international community to increase assistance and to cancel debts owed by Sudan.
(Reporting by Tsegaye Tadesse, editing by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura and Angus MacSwan)