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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.
Local media said the fighting was between rival factions of the presidential guard and focused around their military barracks.Local media said the fighting was between rival factions of the presidential guard and focused around their military barracks.
Army spokesman Phillip Aguer told residents to "remain in their residences until we establish the actual cause of the shootings". Army spokesman Col Phillip Aguer said some army bases had come under attack, but that the military was in full control, the Associated Press reports.
South Sudan formally split from Sudan in 2011, after decades of conflict. The UN expressed concern and appealed for all sides to show restraint.
Numerous armed groups remain active in the oil-rich country. South Sudan formally split from Sudan in 2011, after decades of conflict. Numerous armed groups remain active in the oil-rich country.
Tensions have been high since President Salva Kiir dismissed his entire cabinet, including his deputy Riek Machar, in July in an apparent power struggle.Tensions have been high since President Salva Kiir dismissed his entire cabinet, including his deputy Riek Machar, in July in an apparent power struggle.
Mr Machar had indicated he planned to contest the presidential elections in 2015.Mr Machar had indicated he planned to contest the presidential elections in 2015.
UN concernUN concern
The fighting in Juba reportedly broke out overnight, and intensified in the early morning.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. The Paris-based Sudan Tribune said the clashes began when one unit of the presidential guard, who are mostly from the Nuer ethnic group, became suspicious of deployments of a group of mainly Dinka guards.
Mr Aguer said the military regretted the situation but gave no details of casualties, the Sudan Tribune reports. Mr Kiir is from the Dinka community, which is the largest in South Sudan, while Mr Machar is from the Nuer, the second-largest.
The UN mission in Juba said earlier that staff there were under lockdown and that the shooting was continuous. Some Nuer have complained about Dinka political domination.
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". The Tribune said state TV was off air and the city's airport was closed.
The situation had reportedly calmed by mid-morning, but heavily armed troops were seen on the capital's streets.
Col Aguer said the situation was tense but not likely to worsen, AP reports.
"So far the army is in full control of Juba," he said.
Hilde Johnson, the UN's special representative in South Sudan, said she was "deeply concerned" about the fighting and 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."I have been in touch regularly with the key leaders, including at the highest levels to call for calm," she said.
The UN mission in Juba said earlier that staff there were under lockdown.
The UK and US embassies in Juba urged their citizens via Twitter to stay indoors and exercise caution.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".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".
The US embassy also denied rumours that Mr Machar had taken shelter there.