South Sudan to end use of child soldiers

Khartoum, 31 Aug-(ANA)-The army in Southern Sudan has pledged to demobilise all child soldiers by the end of the year.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) has established a child protection unit to fulfil the pledge.

The UN children's agency estimates that the SPLA, thought to have already discharged more than 20,000 children, still includes about 900 in its ranks.

South Sudan, which fought a long civil war against the north, is to hold an independence referendum in January. (ANA)

FA/ANA/31 August 2010-------