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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". | 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 says hundreds have died and has warned of a descent into civil war. | The UN says hundreds have died and has warned of a descent into civil war. |
Mr Kiir's government said its forces were in control of all cities, but he has offered to talk to Mr Machar. | 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' |
Mr Kiir 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 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. |
"Salva 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. | 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. | "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. | Mr Kiir said he was willing to enter into talks with Mr Machar but said he did not know what the result would be. |
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the offer, saying he was "deeply concerned" about the situation in the country. | |
He said that this was "a political crisis that needs to be dealt with through political dialogue" and that there was a risk of the violence spreading further. | |
Mr Ban confirmed that some 20,000 people had taken refuge in the UN mission in Juba, and several hundred more in Jonglei state. | |
French UN ambassador Gerard Araud, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said the conflict had "the potential of a civil war" between the two main ethnic bodies, the Dinka - Mr Kiir's group - and the Nuer, from which Mr Machar hails. | |
Information Minister Micheal Makuei Lueth confirmed to the Associated Press that at least 500 people, mostly soldiers, had been killed. | |
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, the capital of Jonglei state, about 150km (90 miles) to the north. | |
The South Sudan Red Cross Society said at least 19 people were killed in overnight fighting there. | 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". | 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. | 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". |
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. |
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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