South Sudan's sacked vice president Riek Machar said Tuesday he was ready for peace talks with his estranged mentor President Salva Kiir to bring an end to deadly clashes across the country.

"Yes we are ready for talks. I have formed my delegation," he told Radio France Internationale (RFI), adding that the negotiations would likely be held in Ethiopia.

"I also spoke this morning to (US) Secretary of State John Kerry and I spoke to the foreign minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, explained to him my readiness for talks," Machar said.

He said he would not take part in the talks but had formed a "very high-level delegation... with powers to reach agreement."

"We want a democratic nation. We want democratic free and fair elections. We want Salva Kiir to call it a day," he said.

Machar said the talks should be held on "neutral ground". Asked specifically if he was considering Ethiopia, he said: "That's the idea. Ethiopia, yes."

AFP