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South Sudan attackers storm UN base | South Sudan attackers storm UN base |
(35 minutes later) | |
The United Nations says it fears casualties after attackers forced their way into a UN peacekeeping base in South Sudan's Jonglei state. | The United Nations says it fears casualties after attackers forced their way into a UN peacekeeping base in South Sudan's Jonglei state. |
Rebels from the country's second-largest ethnic group, the Nuer, attacked the base, where thousands of civilians have sought refuge. | Rebels from the country's second-largest ethnic group, the Nuer, attacked the base, where thousands of civilians have sought refuge. |
President Salva Kiir, a member of the Dinka ethnic group, has accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of mounting a coup - a claim he denies. | |
The unrest has killed some 500 people. | |
The UN has expressed concern about a possible civil war between the Dinka and the Nuer. | |
UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters on Thursday that "fighting took place" at the compound in Jonglei. | |
"We fear there may have been some fatalities but can't confirm who and how many," he said. | |
A delegation of East African foreign ministers earlier arrived in the capital Juba to try to mediate in the crisis. | |
The UN peacekeeping mission is sheltering civilians in five state capitals, including Juba, Bor and Bentiu, the main town of the oil-producing state of Unity. | |
The attack on the compound in Jonglei comes after Nuer rebels seized control of the key town of Bor. |