S Sudan's Kiir ready to talk with former VP

WASHINGTON - South Sudan President Salva Kiir said he was ready to begin talks with former Vice-President Riek Machar "without preconditions" to end the current crisis in the conflict-ravaged country, a US envoy said Monday. US special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, said he had a "frank and open" discussion with Kiir in the South Sudanese capital of Juba earlier in the day. "President Kiir committed to me that he was ready to begin talks with Riek Machar to end the crisis, without preconditions, as soon as his counterpart was willing," Booth told reporters via teleconference. Booth said he had met with a group of 11 senior figures in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement "who remain detained in Juba" and were "secure and well taken care of."