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South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar denies coup | South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar denies coup |
(35 minutes later) | |
Fugitive former South Sudanese vice president Riek Machar has denied government allegations that he tried to stage a coup at the weekend. | Fugitive former South Sudanese vice president Riek Machar has denied government allegations that he tried to stage a coup at the weekend. |
In a BBC interview, he denied any link with fighting that began on Sunday. | In a BBC interview, he denied any link with fighting that began on Sunday. |
Mr Machar, who fell out with President Salva Kiir in July, accused him of "inciting tribal and ethnic violence" to cover his own failings. | Mr Machar, who fell out with President Salva Kiir in July, accused him of "inciting tribal and ethnic violence" to cover his own failings. |
The UN has said the fighting has claimed hundreds of lives, and warned that it could descend into a civil war. | The UN has said the fighting has claimed hundreds of lives, and warned that it could descend into a civil war. |
Mr Machar told the BBC on Wednesday: "There was no attempted coup." | Mr Machar told the BBC on Wednesday: "There was no attempted coup." |
He blamed Sunday's fighting on a conflict between members of the presidential guard, and said it spread across parts of the capital, Juba. | He blamed Sunday's fighting on a conflict between members of the presidential guard, and said it spread across parts of the capital, Juba. |
He added that government troops used the incident to arrest some of his supporters on Monday, and that he himself escaped. | He added that government troops used the incident to arrest some of his supporters on Monday, and that he himself escaped. |
"Someone wanted to frame me," he said. "I had to flee. They are hunting me down." | "Someone wanted to frame me," he said. "I had to flee. They are hunting me down." |
The whereabouts of Mr Machar are unclear. He told the BBC he was still in South Sudan and was "not going to leave the country". | The whereabouts of Mr Machar are unclear. He told the BBC he was still in South Sudan and was "not going to leave the country". |
Details of the fighting have been sketchy, but a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday was told that the clashes were "apparently largely along ethnic lines". | Details of the fighting have been sketchy, but a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday was told that the clashes were "apparently largely along ethnic lines". |
French UN ambassador Gerard Araud, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said up to 20,000 people had taken refuge in the UN mission in Juba. | French UN ambassador Gerard Araud, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said up to 20,000 people had taken refuge in the UN mission in Juba. |
"Some reports are speaking of hundreds of casualties. For the moment we can't confirm this, but in any case it is a heavy toll," Mr Araud told the BBC. | "Some reports are speaking of hundreds of casualties. For the moment we can't confirm this, but in any case it is a heavy toll," Mr Araud told the BBC. |
He said the conflict had "the potential of a civil war" between the two main ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer. | He said the conflict had "the potential of a civil war" between the two main ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer. |
The government has denied that there was an ethnic aspect to the conflict. | The government has denied that there was an ethnic aspect to the conflict. |
"If you see the people going with Dr Riek [Machar], some are Dinkas, some are Chol, Nuer and other tribes," Said the governor of Unity State, Simon Kun Pouch. | "If you see the people going with Dr Riek [Machar], some are Dinkas, some are Chol, Nuer and other tribes," Said the governor of Unity State, Simon Kun Pouch. |
President Kiir has said a group of soldiers supporting Mr Machar had tried to take power by force on Sunday night, but were defeated. | President Kiir has said a group of soldiers supporting Mr Machar had tried to take power by force on Sunday night, but were defeated. |
He said the clashes began when uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the governing party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). | He said the clashes began when uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the governing party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). |
Fighting continued into Monday when the government said it was back in full control. | Fighting 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. |
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said Mr Machar - who leads a dissident faction within the SPLM - was thought to have escaped with some troops. | Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth 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 10 opposition figures who had been arrested. | 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 10 opposition figures who had been arrested. |
Many were members of the cabinet that was sacked in its entirety in July. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But the oil-rich country remains ethnically and politically divided, with many armed groups active. |
Correspondents say Mr Machar is a shrewd operator, switching sides on several occasions during the north-south conflict as he sought to strengthen his own position and defend the interests of his Nuer group. | |
After a peace deal was signed in 2005, the southern rebel group appointed Mr Machar as vice-president of the South Sudan regional government, a position he retained after independence in 2011 until he was dropped in July. | |
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