ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - South Sudan's warring parties opened negotiations in Addis Ababa on Saturday to strike a ceasefire deal and end nearly three weeks of conflict, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said.

"Representatives of government and opposition of South Sudan start official peace talks," Addis Ababa's foreign ministry said in a statement, as the two sides met at a ceremony in the Ethiopian capital.

Full face-to-face talks are due to begin Sunday.