Updated

South Sudan has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force approved by the U.N. Security Council after first rejecting the peacekeepers as a violation of its sovereignty.

Sunday's announcement came after the visiting Security Council met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

The threat of an arms embargo loomed over the meeting, as the council has said it would pursue one if South Sudan didn't accept the peacekeepers.

Fighting that erupted in the capital, Juba, in July killed hundreds and sparked fears of a renewed civil war.

U.N. officials say the new force needs more than two months to deploy.

South Sudan also has committed to implementing a hybrid court to investigate war crimes, according to Sunday's joint statement by the government and the Security Council.