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Thousands dead in South Sudan violence, UN says | Thousands dead in South Sudan violence, UN says |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of people must have been killed in the past week of violence in South Sudan, the top UN humanitarian co-ordinator there has told the BBC. | Thousands of people must have been killed in the past week of violence in South Sudan, the top UN humanitarian co-ordinator there has told the BBC. |
Toby Lanzer, who is in Bentiu in northern Unity state, said it had been "a devastating week for South Sudan". | Toby Lanzer, who is in Bentiu in northern Unity state, said it had been "a devastating week for South Sudan". |
The UN Security Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to almost double the number of peacekeepers to 12,500. | |
Earlier President Salva Kiir said his forces had recaptured the key town of Bor days after it was seized by rebels. | Earlier President Salva Kiir said his forces had recaptured the key town of Bor days after it was seized by rebels. |
The rebels are led by Riek Machar, of the ethnic Nuer, who has been battling President Kiir, of the Dinka. | The rebels are led by Riek Machar, of the ethnic Nuer, who has been battling President Kiir, of the Dinka. |
The UN also said on Tuesday that it had reports of at least three mass graves. | |
One was in Bentiu in the north, and two in the capital, Juba. | One was in Bentiu in the north, and two in the capital, Juba. |
'Palpable fear' | 'Palpable fear' |
Mr Lanzer told the BBC's Newshour programme: "I think it's undeniable at this stage that there must have been thousands of people who have lost their lives. | Mr Lanzer told the BBC's Newshour programme: "I think it's undeniable at this stage that there must have been thousands of people who have lost their lives. |
"When I've looked at the hospitals in key towns and I've looked at the hospitals in the capital itself, the range of injuries, this is no longer a situation where we can merely say it's hundreds of people who've lost their lives." | "When I've looked at the hospitals in key towns and I've looked at the hospitals in the capital itself, the range of injuries, this is no longer a situation where we can merely say it's hundreds of people who've lost their lives." |
Mr Lanzer also said that the number of people seeking shelter from the fighting was "tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands". | Mr Lanzer also said that the number of people seeking shelter from the fighting was "tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands". |
He said that the tensions between different communities in South Sudan was even evident within a UN base he had just visited where some 7,500 people are seeking protection. | He said that the tensions between different communities in South Sudan was even evident within a UN base he had just visited where some 7,500 people are seeking protection. |
"There have been some - to put it diplomatically - very lively discussions and there has been a little tension at times," he said. | "There have been some - to put it diplomatically - very lively discussions and there has been a little tension at times," he said. |
"We are managing the situation and I have just had a discussion with the community leaders inside our base where I said to them, for the benefit of all the women and children, and you who are here, we are counting on you to keep it as calm as possible." | "We are managing the situation and I have just had a discussion with the community leaders inside our base where I said to them, for the benefit of all the women and children, and you who are here, we are counting on you to keep it as calm as possible." |
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said: "There is a palpable fear among civilians of both Dinka and Nuer backgrounds that they will be killed on the basis of their ethnicity." | The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said: "There is a palpable fear among civilians of both Dinka and Nuer backgrounds that they will be killed on the basis of their ethnicity." |
The UN says at least 80,000 people have been displaced by the South Sudan crisis - about half of them seeking shelter with the UN. | |
Late on Tuesday the UN Security Council voted to increase its peacekeepers from 7,000 to 12,500, and its international police force from 900 to 1,323. | |
It authorised temporary transfers from missions in DR Congo, Darfur, Abyei, Ivory Coast and Liberia. | |
The council called for "an immediate cessation of hostilities and the immediate opening of a dialogue". | |
Calls for dialogue | |
President Kiir earlier told journalists in Juba that his forces had "retaken Bor and are now clearing whatever forces that are remaining there". | President Kiir earlier told journalists in Juba that his forces had "retaken Bor and are now clearing whatever forces that are remaining there". |
Bor, 200km (125 miles) north of Juba, had been one of the major successes for the rebels. They are believed to still be in control of Bentiu. | |
Radio Tamazuj said government troops of the Sudan People's Liberation Army had launched attacks on positions held by Nuer commander and army defector Peter Gadet on Tuesday afternoon in Bor. | Radio Tamazuj said government troops of the Sudan People's Liberation Army had launched attacks on positions held by Nuer commander and army defector Peter Gadet on Tuesday afternoon in Bor. |
Mr Kiir said there was also fighting in the town of Malakal and that his troops were "ready to capture Bentiu". | Mr Kiir said there was also fighting in the town of Malakal and that his troops were "ready to capture Bentiu". |
President Kiir and Mr Machar have both said they are willing to talk. | President Kiir and Mr Machar have both said they are willing to talk. |
However, Mr Machar has said his detained political allies must first be freed, while Mr Kiir says there should be no preconditions. | However, Mr Machar has said his detained political allies must first be freed, while Mr Kiir says there should be no preconditions. |
Mr Machar told Radio France Internationale he had formed a delegation for talks and that they would probably be held in Ethiopia. | Mr Machar told Radio France Internationale he had formed a delegation for talks and that they would probably be held in Ethiopia. |
Mr Kiir has accused Mr Machar, who he sacked in July, of plotting a coup. Mr Machar denies he is trying to seize power. | Mr Kiir has accused Mr Machar, who he sacked in July, of plotting a coup. Mr Machar denies he is trying to seize power. |
Sudan suffered a 22-year civil war that left more than a million people dead before the South became independent in 2011. | Sudan suffered a 22-year civil war that left more than a million people dead before the South became independent in 2011. |