This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25500402
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UN's Ban Ki-moon seeks to boost South Sudan force | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The UN secretary general has urged the Security Council to almost double the number of UN troops in South Sudan. | |
| Ban Ki-moon asked for 5,500 police and peacekeepers to add to the 7,000-strong force there, amid escalating violence and allegations of atrocities. | |
| He earlier said anyone responsible for abuse would be held to account. | |
| Tens of thousands of people have fled fighting, as rebels thought to support sacked former vice-president Riek Machar have seized major towns. | Tens of thousands of people have fled fighting, as rebels thought to support sacked former vice-president Riek Machar have seized major towns. |
| His rival, President Salva Kiir, has promised an imminent counter-strike against the rebels | His rival, President Salva Kiir, has promised an imminent counter-strike against the rebels |
| President Kiir, a member of the majority Dinka ethnic group, sacked Mr Machar, who is from the Nuer community, in July. | President Kiir, a member of the majority Dinka ethnic group, sacked Mr Machar, who is from the Nuer community, in July. |
| Last week the president accused Mr Machar of attempting to launch a coup, which he denies. | Last week the president accused Mr Machar of attempting to launch a coup, which he denies. |
| The fear is that their personal rivalry will spark a full-scale conflict between the Nuer and Dinka groups. | The fear is that their personal rivalry will spark a full-scale conflict between the Nuer and Dinka groups. |
| Mr Ban said attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers "must cease immediately". | Mr Ban said attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers "must cease immediately". |
| "The United Nations will investigate reports of grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity," he said. | "The United Nations will investigate reports of grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity," he said. |
| "Those responsible at the senior level will be held personally accountable and face the consequences, even if they claim they had no knowledge of the attacks." | "Those responsible at the senior level will be held personally accountable and face the consequences, even if they claim they had no knowledge of the attacks." |
| He requested in a letter to the Security Council that 5,500 troops be reassigned from existed UN missions in other African countries, including Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo. | |
| In addition, he asked for hundreds more police, three attack helicopters, three transport helicopters and one military transport plane. | |
| 'Horrible things' | |
| Two Indian peacekeepers were killed last week in a rebel raid on a UN compound. | Two Indian peacekeepers were killed last week in a rebel raid on a UN compound. |
| The fighting began in the capital Juba last week after Mr Kiir said he had quashed an attempted coup. | The fighting began in the capital Juba last week after Mr Kiir said he had quashed an attempted coup. |
| Since then, violence has spread throughout South Sudan, with rebels taking the major towns of Bor and Bentiu. | Since then, violence has spread throughout South Sudan, with rebels taking the major towns of Bor and Bentiu. |
| Between 500 and 1,000 people are thought to have been killed in the fighting and UN compounds are sheltering more than 40,000 civilians. | Between 500 and 1,000 people are thought to have been killed in the fighting and UN compounds are sheltering more than 40,000 civilians. |
| UN humanitarian co-ordinator Toby Lanzer, who was in Bor over the weekend, told the BBC he had witnessed "some of the most horrible things that one can imagine". | UN humanitarian co-ordinator Toby Lanzer, who was in Bor over the weekend, told the BBC he had witnessed "some of the most horrible things that one can imagine". |
| "People who were being lined up and executed in a summary fashion. This is done by people who are simply out of control," Mr Lanzer said. | "People who were being lined up and executed in a summary fashion. This is done by people who are simply out of control," Mr Lanzer said. |
| President Kiir told parliament earlier that he was willing to hold talks with Mr Machar, saying that a delegation of East African foreign ministers had offered to mediate. | President Kiir told parliament earlier that he was willing to hold talks with Mr Machar, saying that a delegation of East African foreign ministers had offered to mediate. |
| However, he said that Mr Machar would have to come to the table without any conditions. | However, he said that Mr Machar would have to come to the table without any conditions. |
| Mr Machar told Reuters news agency that he was open to dialogue if his political allies were released from detention. | |
| Over the weekend, the US deployed extra troops to help evacuate Americans and other foreigners. | Over the weekend, the US deployed extra troops to help evacuate Americans and other foreigners. |
| In Bor, three US military aircraft were fired upon on Saturday, forcing the evacuation to be aborted. On Sunday, the US re-entered using civilian US and UN helicopters. | In Bor, three US military aircraft were fired upon on Saturday, forcing the evacuation to be aborted. On Sunday, the US re-entered using civilian US and UN helicopters. |
| Sudan suffered a 22-year civil war that left more than one million people dead before the South became independent in 2011. | Sudan suffered a 22-year civil war that left more than one million people dead before the South became independent in 2011. |