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South Sudan opposition head Riek Machar denies coup bid | South Sudan opposition head Riek Machar denies coup bid |
(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 and accused President Salva Kiir of "inciting tribal and ethnic violence". | |
The UN has said the fighting has claimed hundreds of lives, and warned that it could descend into civil war. | |
The government says it fully controls the capital Juba and all other cities. | |
'Hunting me down' | |
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). |
But Mr Machar told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme on Wednesday: "There was no attempted coup." | But Mr Machar told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme on Wednesday: "There was no attempted coup." |
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". | |
He blamed Sunday's fighting on a conflict between members of the presidential guard, and said it spread across parts of 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." |
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 denied there was an ethnic aspect to the conflict. | The government denied there was an ethnic aspect to the conflict. |
There were reports that fighting had continued on Monday and Tuesday near the presidential palace and many other areas of Juba. | There were reports that fighting had continued on Monday and Tuesday near the presidential palace and many other areas of Juba. |
On Wednesday a businessman living in Juba, Muhammad Waqas ur-Rehman, told the BBC the city was tense and that he and many others were trying to leave. | On Wednesday a businessman living in Juba, Muhammad Waqas ur-Rehman, told the BBC the city was tense and that he and many others were trying to leave. |
There were also reports of people fleeing clashes in Bor, about 150km (90 miles) to the north, with further gunfire reported there on Wednesday. | There were also reports of people fleeing clashes in Bor, about 150km (90 miles) to the north, with further gunfire reported there on Wednesday. |
However, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told the BBC that government forces were in full control of Juba and all other cities, and that there were no major engagements. | However, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told the BBC that government forces were in full control of Juba and all other cities, and that there were no major engagements. |
The UK's Foreign Office said it was pulling some of its embassy staff out of Juba "due to the current instability". | The UK's Foreign Office said it was pulling some of its embassy staff out of Juba "due to the current instability". |
It said the embassy remained open but that it now advised "against all travel to Jonglei state and Juba". | It said the embassy remained open but that it now advised "against all travel to Jonglei state and 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. But the oil-rich country remains ethnically and politically divided, with many armed groups active. | 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. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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