Rebels attack South Sudan town
Iran Press TV
Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:10AM GMT
Rebels supporting former South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar have launched new battles with government troops to take the control of the key town of Bor, South Sudan's army says.
"There is a fighting this morning in Bor town... we are awaiting more details," the spokesman for the army, Philip Aguer said on Tuesday.
The conflict between the government forces and the rebels comes as the United Nations announced on Monday that thousands of people are escaping Bor as rebel forces prepared to attack it, dropping the number of people in the UN compound in the restive town from 17,000 to only 8,000.
The army retook control of the flashpoint town on December 24, nearly a week after the rebels had seized the town.
The world's youngest nation plunged into unrest on December 15 after President Salva Kiir accused Machar of attempting to stage a coup.
According to reports, two weeks of fighting in the oil-rich country has left some 1000 people dead and driven over 200,000 from their homes.
The African Union has threatened tough measures, including sanctions, against those inciting violence in the country, fearing a spillover into the neighboring countries.
Tuesday is the deadline set by regional leaders at the Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) for Machar to hold face-to-face talks with Kiir.
MM/HN/HJL
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