S.Sudan president, rebel leader agree on direct talks: Kerry US Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday he had secured promises from South Sudan's president and rebel leader to hold direct talks on ending the country's brutal four-month-old civil war. After talks in Juba with President Salva Kiir, Kerry said the conflict -- with both sides accused of widespread atrocities and war crimes -- could not be allowed to rage on amid warnings of a slide towards genocide and famine. Images