KHARTOUM, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The third round of peace talks between South Sudan's conflicting parties started on Monday in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
This round of talks "discusses some issues that have not been resolved in the document of the peace deal signed on Aug. 5," said Sudan's Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed.
"All South Sudanese parties are taking part in this round, scheduled to end on Aug. 19," added Ahmed.
He expressed optimism that the parties would settle those issues and reach a comprehensive peace agreement.
Meanwhile, South Sudan Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters that the outstanding issues to be discussed during this round include powers of the president and vice presidents, representation in the judicial authority, as well as revision of the country's administrative division and naming of new ministries.
He said these issues are not complicated and could be resolved within hours if necessary seriousness is provided.
Earlier, a South Sudanese opposition alliance demanded reconsideration of the administrative division of 32 states.
In October 2015, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a decree dissolving the Council of the States, which operated under the administrative division of 10 states, and establishing 28 states.
In January 2017, President Kiir issued a separate decree establishing additional four states.
South Sudan's conflicting parties signed a final deal on Aug. 5 in Khartoum on power-sharing and security arrangements.
The deal was signed by President Kiir, major opposition leader Riek Machar and representatives of other South Sudanese opposition factions.
It stipulates that Kiir will continue his post during the transitional period, while Machar will be the first vice president among the four vice presidents from different political parties.
Under the agreement, the transitional cabinet would be composed of 35 ministers, including 20 ministers from the government, and nine from Machar-led Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The deal stipulates a transitional national legislative body composed of 550 members, with 332 from the government and 128 from the SPLM-IO.
South Sudan has been witnessing a civil war since December 2013, which has killed about 10,000 and displaced millions of others.
