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South Sudan ceasefire violated, rebels and government say | South Sudan ceasefire violated, rebels and government say |
(35 minutes later) | |
The army and rebels in South Sudan have accused each other of breaching a ceasefire, only hours after it was meant to come into effect. | The army and rebels in South Sudan have accused each other of breaching a ceasefire, only hours after it was meant to come into effect. |
The army said rebels attacked government positions in the early hours of Sunday in the town of Bentiu in oil-rich Unity State. | The army said rebels attacked government positions in the early hours of Sunday in the town of Bentiu in oil-rich Unity State. |
The rebels said their positions were targeted by ground attack and artillery in Unity and Upper Nile states. | The rebels said their positions were targeted by ground attack and artillery in Unity and Upper Nile states. |
A deal to end the five-month conflict was signed on Friday in Ethiopia. | A deal to end the five-month conflict was signed on Friday in Ethiopia. |
At the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar met face-to-face for the first time since hostilities broke out and agreed to halt fighting within 24 hours. | At the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar met face-to-face for the first time since hostilities broke out and agreed to halt fighting within 24 hours. |
But in a statement issued on Sunday, rebel military spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the reported violations showed "that Kiir is either insincere or not in control of his forces." | But in a statement issued on Sunday, rebel military spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the reported violations showed "that Kiir is either insincere or not in control of his forces." |
For the army, spokesman Philip Aguer said the rebel attacks in Bentiu had been repelled. | For the army, spokesman Philip Aguer said the rebel attacks in Bentiu had been repelled. |
There has been no independent verification of either side's claims. | There has been no independent verification of either side's claims. |
A previous deal, made in January, collapsed in days, with each side accusing the other of breaching terms. | A previous deal, made in January, collapsed in days, with each side accusing the other of breaching terms. |
Earlier, the UN called on both sides to facilitate deliveries of emergency aid to a population in danger of mass hunger. | Earlier, the UN called on both sides to facilitate deliveries of emergency aid to a population in danger of mass hunger. |
The UN estimates that some five million of South Sudan's citizens are in need. At least 1.5 million have been displaced and thousands of people have been killed. | |
Toby Lanzer, the UN's top aid official in the region, said roads and rivers must be opened for emergency relief. | Toby Lanzer, the UN's top aid official in the region, said roads and rivers must be opened for emergency relief. |
The hope had been that the ceasefire would pave the way for the creation of a transitional government, the drafting of a new constitution and fresh elections. | The hope had been that the ceasefire would pave the way for the creation of a transitional government, the drafting of a new constitution and fresh elections. |
'Crimes against humanity' | |
The UN has accused both the South Sudanese government and the rebels of crimes against humanity, including mass killings and gang-rape. | The UN has accused both the South Sudanese government and the rebels of crimes against humanity, including mass killings and gang-rape. |
The violence began when President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Mr Machar of plotting a coup. | The violence began when President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Mr Machar of plotting a coup. |
Mr Machar denied the allegation, but then marshalled a rebel army to fight the government. | Mr Machar denied the allegation, but then marshalled a rebel army to fight the government. |
The battle assumed ethnic overtones, with Mr Machar relying heavily on fighters from his Nuer ethnic group and Mr Kiir from his Dinka community. | The battle assumed ethnic overtones, with Mr Machar relying heavily on fighters from his Nuer ethnic group and Mr Kiir from his Dinka community. |
The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan. However, they have struggled to contain the conflict. | The UN has about 8,500 peacekeepers in South Sudan. However, they have struggled to contain the conflict. |
South Sudan gained independence in 2011, breaking away from Sudan after decades of conflict between rebels and the Khartoum government. | South Sudan gained independence in 2011, breaking away from Sudan after decades of conflict between rebels and the Khartoum government. |
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