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South Sudan crisis: Kiir and Machar 'to meet on Friday' South Sudan crisis: Kiir and Machar 'to meet on Friday'
(about 2 hours later)
A face-to-face meeting between South Sudan's rival politicians is likely to take place on Friday in Ethiopia, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said.A face-to-face meeting between South Sudan's rival politicians is likely to take place on Friday in Ethiopia, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said.
Both President Salva Kiir and his sacked former deputy Riek Machar had given him their assurances during his trip to South Sudan, he said.Both President Salva Kiir and his sacked former deputy Riek Machar had given him their assurances during his trip to South Sudan, he said.
A truce was agreed in January but fighting has continued.A truce was agreed in January but fighting has continued.
More than a million people have fled their homes since the conflict erupted in December.More than a million people have fled their homes since the conflict erupted in December.
Fighting broke out after President Kiir accused Mr Machar of plotting a coup.Fighting broke out after President Kiir accused Mr Machar of plotting a coup.
Mr Machar denied the charges, but then mobilised a rebel force to fight the government.Mr Machar denied the charges, but then mobilised a rebel force to fight the government.
Over the last few days, South Sudan government troops have been trying to recapture the oil hub of Bentiu from rebels, but have been forced back amid heavy gunfire.Over the last few days, South Sudan government troops have been trying to recapture the oil hub of Bentiu from rebels, but have been forced back amid heavy gunfire.
'Enrages my soul''Enrages my soul'
During his one-day visit to the capital, Juba, Mr Ban said the continuing conflict was "senseless".During his one-day visit to the capital, Juba, Mr Ban said the continuing conflict was "senseless".
"What I have seen and heard today breaks my heart and enrages my soul," the AFP news agency quoted Mr Ban as saying."What I have seen and heard today breaks my heart and enrages my soul," the AFP news agency quoted Mr Ban as saying.
He said the country's leaders "must support justice and accountability for the crime committed and they must act to address the root causes of the conflict".He said the country's leaders "must support justice and accountability for the crime committed and they must act to address the root causes of the conflict".
It was John Kerry, the US secretary of state, who got Mr Kiir and Mr Machar to commit to a meeting during his visit to South Sudan last week.It was John Kerry, the US secretary of state, who got Mr Kiir and Mr Machar to commit to a meeting during his visit to South Sudan last week.
Mr Ban said the assurances he had received meant the talks in Addis Ababa could happen on Friday.Mr Ban said the assurances he had received meant the talks in Addis Ababa could happen on Friday.
He added, however, that Mr Machar had told him that as he was currently in the bush, he may not be able to make it by Friday, but he would try his best.He added, however, that Mr Machar had told him that as he was currently in the bush, he may not be able to make it by Friday, but he would try his best.
The power struggle between the two men - who fought together in the civil war before South Sudan's independence - has increasingly taken on an ethnic dimension. Meanwhile, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has defended his role in the conflict and denied that South Sudan's government was paying for military assistance.
Mr Museveni told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme that he had responded to a call by a beleaguered government to support it from "unconstitutional change".
He also said he would welcome sanctions against leaders blocking the peace process, if the sanctions were backed by regional bodies.
The power struggle between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar - who fought together in the civil war before South Sudan's independence - has increasingly taken on an ethnic dimension.
Mr Kiir is a member of the country's largest group, the Dinka, while Mr Machar is from the second-biggest, the Nuer.Mr Kiir is a member of the country's largest group, the Dinka, while Mr Machar is from the second-biggest, the Nuer.
Both sides have been implicated in atrocities and war crimes and thousands of people have taken refuge at the various UN bases across the country.Both sides have been implicated in atrocities and war crimes and thousands of people have taken refuge at the various UN bases across the country.
The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan, which became the world's newest state after seceding from Sudan in 2011.The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan, which became the world's newest state after seceding from Sudan in 2011.