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| South Sudan security forces abusing civilians - Amnesty | South Sudan security forces abusing civilians - Amnesty |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| South Sudan's security forces have committed "shocking" acts of violence against civilians, including killings and rapes, Amnesty International says. | South Sudan's security forces have committed "shocking" acts of violence against civilians, including killings and rapes, Amnesty International says. |
| In a report, the UK-based human rights group says the abuse has been taking place during a disarmament campaign in the eastern Jonglei state. | In a report, the UK-based human rights group says the abuse has been taking place during a disarmament campaign in the eastern Jonglei state. |
| Amnesty urges South Sudan to take "immediate action" to end the violence. | Amnesty urges South Sudan to take "immediate action" to end the violence. |
| The government in Juba has played down the scale of the violations, saying they are isolated cases. | The government in Juba has played down the scale of the violations, saying they are isolated cases. |
| New conflict fears | New conflict fears |
| Amnesty says its researches interviewed scores of people in the region, who described widespread torture and abuse against civilians, including children as young as 18 months old. | Amnesty says its researches interviewed scores of people in the region, who described widespread torture and abuse against civilians, including children as young as 18 months old. |
| It also says that in some cases the security forces looted property and destroyed crops. | It also says that in some cases the security forces looted property and destroyed crops. |
| "Far from bringing security to the region, the SPLA (South Sudan Army) and the police auxiliary forces have committed shocking human rights violations," said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty's Africa director. | "Far from bringing security to the region, the SPLA (South Sudan Army) and the police auxiliary forces have committed shocking human rights violations," said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty's Africa director. |
| He accused the authorities of "doing very little to stop the abuse". | He accused the authorities of "doing very little to stop the abuse". |
| The government launched Operation Restore Peace in March in response to ethnic clashes in Jonglei in which hundreds of people were killed. | The government launched Operation Restore Peace in March in response to ethnic clashes in Jonglei in which hundreds of people were killed. |
| South Sudan - which gained independence just over a year ago - has previously sought to play down the accusations, the BBC's Grant Ferrett says. | |
| The danger, though, is that the alleged abuse could fuel resentment and a new round of conflict, our correspondent adds. | The danger, though, is that the alleged abuse could fuel resentment and a new round of conflict, our correspondent adds. |