Sudan and South Sudan make verbal peace pledge, but no official agreement yet

07/09/12: Al Jazeera reports Sudan and South Sudan have pledged to cease hostilities along their disputed oil-rich border, but stopped short of actually signing an agreement.  The verbal agreement on Saturday came as the latest round of talks closed in Ethiopia ahead of celebrations on Monday to mark one year of independence for South Sudan.  “We have agreed … to the unequivocal commitment of the two parties to never solicit force to settle their disputes and differences and to commit themselves to the cessation of hostilities,” said Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, Sudan’s defense minister.  The two sides also agreed “to strengthen [and] enhance the political will which is happily once more existing [sic] between the two countries.”  Talks are expected to continue on Wednesday following the independence celebrations.