South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar is to be relocated to a neutral country outside the region as part of a deal to end more than four years of civil war in the country.

The plan is endorsed by regional leaders.

Mr Machar has been under house arrest in South Africa since fleeing South Sudan's capital, Juba, in 2016.

Two days of peace talks held in Ethiopia have failed to break the deadlock between the warring sides.

President Salva Kiir rejected proposals to work together with his former vice-president in any transitional government.

It was the first time Mr Machar had met face-to-face with his rival, President Kiir, in almost two years.

The next phase of talks are to be held in Sudan and Kenya and will for the first time focus on the country’s economy, which has been shattered by the violence.

Oil production has almost ground to a halt in the mineral-rich country.

Mediators have however warned of sanctions if no deal is reached.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions more displaced since fighting broke out in December 2013