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South Sudan opposition head Riek Machar denies coup bid South Sudan opposition head Riek Machar denies coup bid
(about 1 hour 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".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 UN says hundreds have died and has warned of a descent into civil war.
The government says it fully controls the capital Juba and all other cities. Mr Kiir's government said its forces were in control of all cities, but he has offered to talk to Mr Machar.
'Hunting me down''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. Mr Kiir 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". 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 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."
Mr Machar said his disagreement with Mr Kiir was on reform of the SPLM, which the president had rejected.
"So we are asking him to resign and leave the presidency," Mr Machar said.
Mr Kiir said he was willing to enter into talks with Mr Machar but said he did not know what the result would be.
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.
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.
The South Sudan Red Cross Society said at least 19 people were killed in overnight fighting there.
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.
Mr Ateny played down the prospect of civil war and said that while it was likely that civilians had been caught in the fighting, no-one was "targeting ethnic groups".
BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says it remains to be seen what impact such government assurances will have in what has been a tense and volatile situation.
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.
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.
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