This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25425453
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| South Sudan clashes 'kill 400-500' after coup claim | South Sudan clashes 'kill 400-500' after coup claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people are believed to have died in clashes between rival South Sudan army factions, the UN says, quoting unconfirmed reports. | Hundreds of people are believed to have died in clashes between rival South Sudan army factions, the UN says, quoting unconfirmed reports. |
| UN diplomats said they had been told by sources in the capital, Juba, that the death toll was between 400 and 500. | UN diplomats said they had been told by sources in the capital, Juba, that the death toll was between 400 and 500. |
| South Sudan has seen two days of clashes following a reported coup attempt against President Salva Kiir. | South Sudan has seen two days of clashes following a reported coup attempt against President Salva Kiir. |
| Earlier, the government said 10 senior political figures, including the former finance minister, had been arrested. | Earlier, the government said 10 senior political figures, including the former finance minister, had been arrested. |
| A meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday was told that the fighting was "apparently largely along ethnic lines". | A meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday was told that the fighting was "apparently largely along ethnic lines". |
| French UN ambassador Gerard Araud, who chairs the Security Council, said up to 20,000 people had taken refuge in the UN mission in Juba. | French UN ambassador Gerard Araud, who chairs the Security Council, said up to 20,000 people had taken refuge in the UN mission in Juba. |
| He said the council had received only "patchy information" in a briefing given by UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous. | |
| "We are extremely concerned. There is a heavy toll, that's obvious," Mr Araud added. | |
| The US has ordered all its non-emergency embassy staff to leave the country immediately. | |
| In a nationwide address on Monday, President Kiir said a group of soldiers loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar had tried to take power by force on Sunday night, but were defeated. | In a nationwide address on Monday, President Kiir said a group of soldiers loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar had tried to take power by force on Sunday night, but were defeated. |
| He then ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital. | He then ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital. |
| President Kiir said the clashes began when uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the governing party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). | President Kiir said the clashes began when uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the governing party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). |
| The violence continued into Monday when the government said it was back in full control. | The violence continued into Monday when the government said it was back in full control. |
| However, fresh gunfire erupted on Tuesday near the presidential palace and many other areas of Juba. | However, fresh gunfire erupted on Tuesday near the presidential palace and many other areas of Juba. |
| Government officials say they are hunting for Mr Machar, who is believed to be in hiding. | |
| Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told the BBC that his whereabouts have been unclear since the start of fighting on Sunday. | |
| He said Mr Machar - who leads a dissident faction within the SPLM - was thought to have escaped with some troops. | |
| On Tuesday, the government said former Finance Minister Kosti Manibe, former Justice Minister John Luk Jok and former Interior Minister Gier Chuang Aluong were among the 10 people arrested. | |
| Many were members of the cabinet that was sacked in its entirety in July. | |
| South Sudan has struggled to achieve a stable government since becoming independent from Sudan in 2011. | |
| The independence referendum was intended to end a decade-long conflict, led by the SPLM, against the north. | |
| But the oil-rich country remains ethnically and politically divided, with many armed groups active. |