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South Sudan conflict: Mediators upbeat after Kiir talks South Sudan conflict: Deadly attack on UN base condemned
(about 3 hours later)
African mediators say they have had "productive" talks with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir as they try to stop days of clashes spreading. The UN mission to South Sudan has condemned Thursday's attack on its base in which two Indian peacekeepers and at least 11 civilians were killed.
Heading the delegation, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom said the talks would continue. The Unmiss said the perpetrators of the "heinous crime" in Akobo, Jonglei state, must be brought to justice.
At least 500 people are believed to have died since last weekend, when President Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of a failed coup. This comes as African mediators said they had had "productive" talks with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir to try to stop days of clashes spreading.
An estimated 34,000 people have taken refuge at United Nations compounds. The clashes began when Mr Kiir accused his ex-deputy of a failed coup.
A number of nations have started evacuating their nationals as the conflict spreads. At least 500 people are believed to have died since last weekend.
US President Barack Obama has warned that South Sudan is on the "precipice" of a civil war. An estimated 34,000 people have taken refuge at UN compounds.
South Sudan's neighbour in the north has expressed concern over oil supplies - with fighting reported in oil-rich areas. The unrest has pitted gangs from the Nuer ethnic group of Mr Machar against Dinkas - the majority group to which Mr Kiir belongs.
Sudan endured a 22-year civil war that left more than a million people dead before the South became independent in 2011. A number of countries have begun evacuating their nationals. Britain was sending another flight on Friday, a day after a military transport plane evacuated 182 people, including 53 Britons, to Uganda.
The recent unrest has pitted gangs from the Nuer ethnic group of Mr Machar against Dinkas - the majority group to which Mr Kiir belongs.
President Kiir has blamed the violence on soldiers who support Mr Machar. Mr Machar, who was sacked by Mr Kiir in July, has denied trying to stage a coup.
Mr Kiir has said he is ready to have talks with his rival to end the fighting. There has been no word from Mr Machar, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Evacuations
Friday's talks involved Mr Kiir and foreign ministers from five regional countries - Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.
"We had a very productive meeting with His Excellency President Salva Kiir and we will continue consultations," Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom told reporters in capital Juba afterwards.
The talks were held as the UN confirmed two Indian peacekeepers had been killed on Thursday when a UN base sheltering refugees at Akobo, Jonglei state, came under attack.
An injured Indian soldier was taken to hospital, it said.
It is one of several areas where clashes have occurred.
The town of Bor, the Jonglei state capital, north of Juba, was seized by forces loyal to Mr Machar on Thursday.
And heavy fighting between Nuer and Dinka soldiers has also been reported near Bentiu, capital of oil-producing Unity State.
A UN spokesman told Reuters news agency more than 500 civilians - and 27 soldiers loyal to President Kiir - had sought refuge at a UN compound there.
President Obama has sent 45 military personnel to protect American citizens and property.
A number of countries were preparing to evacuate their nationals. Britain was sending another flight on Friday, a day after a military transport plane evacuated 182 people, including 53 Britons, to Uganda.
Uganda has sent a small contingent of troops to help pull out its nationals.Uganda has sent a small contingent of troops to help pull out its nationals.
A US plane was also due to take Americans out of the country. And China's National Petroleum Company was evacuating oil workers to Juba.A US plane was also due to take Americans out of the country. And China's National Petroleum Company was evacuating oil workers to Juba.
'Unjustified' attack
In a statement of Friday, the Unmiss condemned "in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked attack on its base" in Akobo.
It said the two Indian peacekeepers were killed and one injured when some 2,000 armed youths believed to be of Nuer ethnicity surrounded the base and opened fire "in the direction of Sudanese civilians of Dinka ethnic group who had sought refuge in the compound".
The Unmiss said it at least 11 South Sudanese civilians also died. It had earlier put the death toll at 20.
"I deplore this unjustified and unwarranted attack. It is a criminal act for which the responsible must be held accountable," said Hilde Johnson, the special representative to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"Such attacks will not deter us from continuing to discharge our mandate."
The Unmiss said all its personnel - along with civilians and members of non-governmental organisation - had now been airlifted from the base.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday in an Unmiss compound at the airport in the capital Juba..
It is one of several areas where clashes have occurred.
'Awash with weapons'
Also on Friday, African mediators held talks with President Kiir to try to stop fighting.
The meeting involved foreign ministers from five regional countries - Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.
"We had a very productive meeting with His Excellency President Salva Kiir and we will continue consultations," Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom told reporters in capital Juba afterwards.
President Kiir has blamed the violence on soldiers who support Mr Machar. Mr Machar, who was sacked by Mr Kiir in July, has denied trying to stage a coup.
Mr Kiir has said he is ready to have talks with his rival to end the fighting. There has been no word from Mr Machar, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Jonglei state has witnessed some of the worst violence since South Sudan became independent, with hundreds killed in clashes between rival heavily-armed ethnic militias sparked by cattle-rustling.Jonglei state has witnessed some of the worst violence since South Sudan became independent, with hundreds killed in clashes between rival heavily-armed ethnic militias sparked by cattle-rustling.
Following decades of conflict, weapons such as machineguns are widely available in much of South Sudan. Following decades of conflict, weapons - such as machine guns - are widely available in much of South Sudan.
Forces commanded by Gen Peter Gadet are said to be in control of Bor. Forces commanded by Gen Peter Gadet, who is loyal to Mr Machar, are said to be in control of the town of Bor - the capital of the Jonglei state.
Gen Gadet began his campaign after reports of his fellow Nuers being killed began to come out of Juba. Gen Gadet launched his campaign after reports of his fellow Nuers being killed began to come out of Juba.
Mr Machar and Gen Gadet are both ethnic Nuers, but they have not always fought on the same side in the past.
South Sudan's government insists the clashes are over power and politics, not between ethnic groups.South Sudan's government insists the clashes are over power and politics, not between ethnic groups.
The oil-rich country has struggled to achieve a stable government since becoming independent.The oil-rich country has struggled to achieve a stable government since becoming independent.