This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/world/africa/fatal-assault-and-fears-of-war-as-turmoil-builds-in-south-sudan.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| U.N. Sends Rescue Helicopters to South Sudan as Crisis Worsens | U.N. Sends Rescue Helicopters to South Sudan as Crisis Worsens |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| LONDON — The United Nations said Friday that it had sent helicopters to rescue personnel from a base in South Sudan that came under lethal attack amid a worsening political crisis, and President Obama warned that South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, “stands at the precipice.” | LONDON — The United Nations said Friday that it had sent helicopters to rescue personnel from a base in South Sudan that came under lethal attack amid a worsening political crisis, and President Obama warned that South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, “stands at the precipice.” |
| The number of civilians seeking refuge in the United Nations’ other outposts there exceeds 30,000, and diplomats expressed fears about the potential for a civil war. | The number of civilians seeking refuge in the United Nations’ other outposts there exceeds 30,000, and diplomats expressed fears about the potential for a civil war. |
| Britain, which began evacuating its citizens on Thursday, said Friday that it would send a second airplane to Juba, the capital. “We strongly advise all British nationals in South Sudan to leave the country if they can do so safely,” the Foreign Office said, adding that it might become more difficult to escape if the situation worsened. The United States offered similar advice to Americans and suspended operations at its embassy in Juba this week. | Britain, which began evacuating its citizens on Thursday, said Friday that it would send a second airplane to Juba, the capital. “We strongly advise all British nationals in South Sudan to leave the country if they can do so safely,” the Foreign Office said, adding that it might become more difficult to escape if the situation worsened. The United States offered similar advice to Americans and suspended operations at its embassy in Juba this week. |
| China, which operates oil fields near Juba, also took steps on Friday to protect its nationals in the country. The China National Petroleum Corporation began what it called “the orderly evacuation of our workers,” Agence France-Presse reported. | |
| On its Twitter feed, the United Nations peacekeeping force in South Sudan said early on Friday that it had sent four helicopters to rescue personnel at its base in the town of Akobo in Jonglei State, where, it said, two Indian peacekeepers had been killed when it was attacked on Thursday. India said earlier that three of its soldiers had died. | On its Twitter feed, the United Nations peacekeeping force in South Sudan said early on Friday that it had sent four helicopters to rescue personnel at its base in the town of Akobo in Jonglei State, where, it said, two Indian peacekeepers had been killed when it was attacked on Thursday. India said earlier that three of its soldiers had died. |
| The mission said it had “received assurances from forces in charge of Akobo town that its helicopters will be permitted to land safely this morning.” Earlier, Kieran Dwyer, a spokesman for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said communications with the base in Akobo had been lost. | The mission said it had “received assurances from forces in charge of Akobo town that its helicopters will be permitted to land safely this morning.” Earlier, Kieran Dwyer, a spokesman for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said communications with the base in Akobo had been lost. |
| At the time of the assault by unidentified attackers, the Akobo base housed 43 Indian peacekeepers, six United Nations police advisers, two civilians of undisclosed nationality and about 30 South Sudanese who had sought refuge there from the fighting in the area, the United Nations said. | At the time of the assault by unidentified attackers, the Akobo base housed 43 Indian peacekeepers, six United Nations police advisers, two civilians of undisclosed nationality and about 30 South Sudanese who had sought refuge there from the fighting in the area, the United Nations said. |
| Earlier Friday, the mission said on Twitter that 34,000 people had taken refuge at its compounds. Around 20,000 people are housed at its two compounds in Juba and up to 14,000 at its compound in Bor, the capital of Jonglei, about 125 miles north of Juba, the mission said. | Earlier Friday, the mission said on Twitter that 34,000 people had taken refuge at its compounds. Around 20,000 people are housed at its two compounds in Juba and up to 14,000 at its compound in Bor, the capital of Jonglei, about 125 miles north of Juba, the mission said. |
| The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting about South Sudan on Friday. | The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting about South Sudan on Friday. |
| The situation in South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been tense for months, but it has quickly deteriorated in the past five days since the president, Salva Kiir, accused his former vice president, Riek Machar, of attempting a military coup, which Mr. Machar denied. There have been unconfirmed reports that more than 500 people have been killed and that sectarian animosities between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups have been inflamed. | The situation in South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been tense for months, but it has quickly deteriorated in the past five days since the president, Salva Kiir, accused his former vice president, Riek Machar, of attempting a military coup, which Mr. Machar denied. There have been unconfirmed reports that more than 500 people have been killed and that sectarian animosities between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups have been inflamed. |
| In a letter to Congress released Thursday night, Mr. Obama said 45 American troops had been sent to South Sudan to “support the security of U.S. personnel and our embassy.” | In a letter to Congress released Thursday night, Mr. Obama said 45 American troops had been sent to South Sudan to “support the security of U.S. personnel and our embassy.” |
| “In recent years, against great odds, South Sudan has made great progress toward breaking the cycle of violence that characterized much of its history,” the letter said. “Today, that future is at risk. South Sudan stands at the precipice. Recent fighting threatens to plunge South Sudan back into the dark days of its past.” | “In recent years, against great odds, South Sudan has made great progress toward breaking the cycle of violence that characterized much of its history,” the letter said. “Today, that future is at risk. South Sudan stands at the precipice. Recent fighting threatens to plunge South Sudan back into the dark days of its past.” |
| Navi Pillay, the top human rights official at the United Nations, expressed concern on Thursday about the “rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Sudan and the consequences for the civilian population.” | Navi Pillay, the top human rights official at the United Nations, expressed concern on Thursday about the “rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Sudan and the consequences for the civilian population.” |
| The United Nations, which has operated in South Sudan for years and aided its transition to independence, has a tense relationship with the government, and South Sudanese officials have accused the organization of taking sides in the simmering conflict with Sudan. | The United Nations, which has operated in South Sudan for years and aided its transition to independence, has a tense relationship with the government, and South Sudanese officials have accused the organization of taking sides in the simmering conflict with Sudan. |
| In April, seven United Nations employees and five Indian peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in Jonglei that South Sudan attributed to rebels. A year ago, the military, in what it called a miscommunication, shot down a United Nations helicopter, killing the four Russian crew members aboard. | In April, seven United Nations employees and five Indian peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in Jonglei that South Sudan attributed to rebels. A year ago, the military, in what it called a miscommunication, shot down a United Nations helicopter, killing the four Russian crew members aboard. |
Alan Cowell reported from London, and Rick Gladstone from New York. | Alan Cowell reported from London, and Rick Gladstone from New York. |