Disagreements over oil remains the biggest stumbling block between South Sudan and Sudan
Clashes have broken out between the armed forces of Sudan and South Sudan in several disputed border regions, both sides say.
A spokesman for the South Sudan army says it is the biggest confrontation since independence.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan last July after a long civil war. The nations have several outstanding issues, of which the biggest is oil.
Sudan state radio says President Bashir has now put off a visit to South Sudan.
He had been due to hold a summit next week with the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir.
The clashes prompted President Kiir to warn of war.
He said: "This morning the [Sudanese] air force came and bombed... areas in Unity state.
"After this intensive bombardment our forces.... were attacked by the [Sudan Armed Forces] and militia."
Analysis
(James Copnall BBC News, Khartoum)
The timing of this latest fighting - which South Sudan's military spokesman believes is the "biggest confrontation since independence" - must surely be linked to the summit that was due to take place in early April.
Early reports suggest President Omar al-Bashir will not now travel to Juba.
That would represent a victory for the hard-liners in Khartoum, who have criticised the recent steps taken in the negotiations, and queried why President Bashir should attend the summit.
South Sudan believes this latest fighting was triggered by Khartoum, to sabotage the talks. Khartoum puts the blame squarely on Juba.
One analyst in Sudan thinks the dimensions the fighting took actually reveals the tensions within South Sudan's political elite about how to handle Sudan.
It will take time for a more complete picture of the clashes - which an international security source told the BBC reached the oilfields in Heglig - to emerge.
But it is clear that the recent optimism created by negotiations in Addis Ababa and Khartoum has completely collapsed.
Mr Kiir added: "It is a war that has been imposed on us again, but it is [Sudan] who are looking for it."
He said Southern forces had taken over the key oil field of Heglig, parts of which are claimed by both sides.
Oil dispute
The South also reported Khartoum had attacked the disputed areas of Jau and Pan Akuach, and Teshwin inside South Sudan.
Sudan's army spokesman, Sawarmi Khalid Saad, confirmed fighting in the border area of Sudan's South Kordofan state and the southern Unity state, without giving the exact locations.
"The clashes there are still ongoing," he said.
In January, South Sudan shut down all of its oil fields in a row over the fees Sudan demands to transit the oil.
South Sudan depends on oil sales for 98% of state revenues, but pledged not to restart production until a deal was reached.
Parts of the countries' common border also remain in dispute.
In February, the two states agreed to demarcate most of the border within three months, although this would exclude five disputed areas.
source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17515209
