Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has vowed to defend a peace deal ending more than 20 years of war in southern Sudan.
Speaking in the southwestern town of Waw on Saturday, Mr. Bashir said the nation's troops would prevent any efforts to block implementation of the deal signed with rebels last week.
In recent days, Mr. Bashir has visited several key towns in the south, promising greater cooperation and investment from Khartoum.
The peace deal grants some autonomy to the south and requires local leaders and Khartoum to share oil wealth.
Meantime, southern rebel leader John Garang told British radio that Sudanese officials must pursue a similar deal to end a separate conflict in the western Darfur region.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
