South Sudan has fully shut down its oil output in a row with the north, from which it recently seceded, about oil-export transit fees.

It will restart production after a broader deal with Sudan on issues including border security and the disputed region of Abyei, its oil minister announced yesterday.

South Sudan took about three-quarters of Sudan's oil output when it seceded in July but needs the pipelines running through its northern neighbour to export its crude. The two states have not agreed on a transit fee.

The new nation said on January 20 that it would stop production after Khartoum started confiscating oil in lieu of what it said were unpaid fees.

South Sudan's oil output - reportedly 350000 barrels a day in November - stopped completely yesterday, the government said.