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South Sudan rebel group attacks town in oil-rich state South Sudan rebel group attacks town in oil-rich state
(about 3 hours later)
Rebels from the South Sudan Liberation Army have attacked a town in the oil-rich Unity State, killing at least 15 people, the national army has said. Rebels from the South Sudan Liberation Army have attacked a town in the oil-rich Unity State and at least 75 people have died, the national army has said.
Rebels' claims that they are now in control of town of Mayom cannot be independently verified. Among the dead, nine were soldiers, 15 were civilians and at least 50 were rebels, an army spokesman told the BBC.
South Sudan became independent in July after a peace deal with Khartoum that ended decades of civil war.South Sudan became independent in July after a peace deal with Khartoum that ended decades of civil war.
Afterwards, some of the region's rebel movements struck deals with the government but several remain defiant.Afterwards, some of the region's rebel movements struck deals with the government but several remain defiant.
WarningWarning
Both sides produced widely differing accounts of the number of casualties after the attack in Unity State, which happened in the early hours of the morning.Both sides produced widely differing accounts of the number of casualties after the attack in Unity State, which happened in the early hours of the morning.
According to a South Sudan minister quoted by Agence France Presse, 75 people, including 60 rebels, were killed. The SSLA say that they killed more than 700 soldiers in the attack. Rebels' claims that they are now in control of town of Mayom have been dismissed by locals and officials.
On Friday, rebels from the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) warned United Nations staff and aid workers to leave the state. This warning has now been extended to the nearby Warrup state.On Friday, rebels from the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) warned United Nations staff and aid workers to leave the state. This warning has now been extended to the nearby Warrup state.
The rebels say they are fighting against corruption, underdevelopment and the domination of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the former rebels who now run South Sudan.The rebels say they are fighting against corruption, underdevelopment and the domination of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the former rebels who now run South Sudan.
The BBC's James Copnall, in Khartoum, says that the SSLA's rebellion is particularly sensitive because of its location as most of South Sudan's oilfields - which account for 98% of the new country's revenue - are in Unity State.The BBC's James Copnall, in Khartoum, says that the SSLA's rebellion is particularly sensitive because of its location as most of South Sudan's oilfields - which account for 98% of the new country's revenue - are in Unity State.