France welcomes Sudan's decision to withdraw troops from the disputed border area of Abyei in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, French foreign ministry said Wednesday in a statement.

But France also expressed its concern about "the mutual accusations by Sudan and South Sudan of bombings and attacks on the territory of the neighboring State," the ministry declared.

France said it encourages the parties meeting in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa for the continuation of the negotiations to demonstrate the utmost restraint and to participate constructively in the process in order to swiftly resolve their disputes.

"France fully supports the role played by the African Union (AU) in facilitating such a settlement," the ministry added.

Tensions have increased over recent weeks after the newly independent South Sudan's troops moved into the oil-producing region of Heglig in Sudan's South Kordofan state, and Sudanese troops bombed South Sudanese territory.

But the Sudanese troops refuted South Sudan's accusation that they had launched aerial bombardment on areas in the latter's territories on the eve of a new round of negotiations between the two countries.

However, the Sudanese troops announced on Monday that it was withdrawing from Abyei, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, in response to the initiative called for by the AU.

The AU Peace and Security Council on April 24 issued a resolution asking the UNSC to support its demands for Sudan and South Sudan to cease fire within 48 hours, resume negotiations within two weeks and complete the peace agreement in three months.

On May 2, the UNSC adopted a resolution demanding that both sides immediately cease fire and unconditionally withdraw all of their armed forces to their respective sides of the border.

Sudan and South Sudan are expected to resume a new round of negotiations on Tuesday in Addis Ababa in a bid to find settlements for their outstanding issues including the affiliation of the Abyei area.