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South Sudan capital Juba hit by gunfire South Sudan capital Juba hit by gunfire
(35 minutes later)
Heavy gunfire and explosions have been heard throughout the night in the South Sudanese capital Juba.Heavy gunfire and explosions have been heard throughout the night in the South Sudanese capital Juba.
The UN mission in Juba said staff there were under lockdown and that the shooting was continuous. Local media said the fighting was between rival factions of the presidential guard and focused around their military barracks.
Correspondents say the firing appeared to be focused around military barracks in the city.
Army spokesman Phillip Aguer told residents to "remain in their residences until we establish the actual cause of the shootings".Army spokesman Phillip Aguer told residents to "remain in their residences until we establish the actual cause of the shootings".
South Sudan broke away from Sudan after a referendum in 2011 and decades of conflict. Numerous armed groups remain active in the oil-rich country. South Sudan formally split from Sudan in 2011, after decades of conflict.
Tensions have been high since President Salva Kiir dismissed his deputy Riek Machar in July in an apparent power struggle. Numerous armed groups remain active in the oil-rich country.
A Reuters reporter in Juba said the fighting had gone on through the night but intensified in the early morning. Tensions have been high since President Salva Kiir dismissed his entire cabinet, including his deputy Riek Machar, in July in an apparent power struggle.
The army spokesman said the military regretted the situation but gave no details of casualties, the Sudan Tribune reports. Mr Machar had indicated he planned to contest the presidential elections in 2015.
The UK and US embassies in Juba also urged their citizens via Twitter to stay indoors and exercise caution. UN concern
The US statement to citizens said the embassy had "received reports from multiple reliable sources of ongoing security incidents and sporadic gunfire in multiple locations across Juba". The fighting in Juba reportedly broke out overnight, and intensified in the early morning.
The South Sudan News Agency said when one unit of the presidential guard had suspected another group of incursion.
Mr Aguer said the military regretted the situation but gave no details of casualties, the Sudan Tribune reports.
The UN mission in Juba said earlier that staff there were under lockdown and that the shooting was continuous.
Hilde Johnson, the special representative in South Sudan, said the UN was "deeply concerned" about the fighting and she urged "all parties in the fighting to cease hostilities immediately and exercise restraint".
"I have been in touch regularly with the key leaders, including at the highest levels to call for calm," she said.
The UK and US embassies in Juba urged their citizens via Twitter to stay indoors and exercise caution.
The US statement to citizens said it had suspended all routine services amid "reports from multiple reliable sources of ongoing security incidents and sporadic gunfire in multiple locations across Juba".