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| South Sudan: White Army 'abandons war march' on Bor town | South Sudan: White Army 'abandons war march' on Bor town |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of South Sudanese youths - loyal to rebel leader Riek Machar - have abandoned their march on the strategic town of Bor, officials say. | Thousands of South Sudanese youths - loyal to rebel leader Riek Machar - have abandoned their march on the strategic town of Bor, officials say. |
| South Sudan's information minister said community leaders had persuaded most of the "White Army" fighters to go home. | South Sudan's information minister said community leaders had persuaded most of the "White Army" fighters to go home. |
| A UN surveillance flight earlier located the group 50 km north-east of Bor, but did not reveal its size. | A UN surveillance flight earlier located the group 50 km north-east of Bor, but did not reveal its size. |
| At least 1,000 people have died in this month's fighting. More than 121,600 are believed to have fled their homes. | At least 1,000 people have died in this month's fighting. More than 121,600 are believed to have fled their homes. |
| Tens of thousands of civilians have sought refuge in UN camps, and reinforcements have been arriving to give them extra protection. | Tens of thousands of civilians have sought refuge in UN camps, and reinforcements have been arriving to give them extra protection. |
| What began as a power struggle between Mr Machar and President Salva Kiir has taken on overtones of a tribal conflict. The Dinka, to which Mr Kiir belongs, are pitted against the Nuer, from which Mr Machar hails. | What began as a power struggle between Mr Machar and President Salva Kiir has taken on overtones of a tribal conflict. The Dinka, to which Mr Kiir belongs, are pitted against the Nuer, from which Mr Machar hails. |
| The government has offered a ceasefire, but the army says its forces are still battling over oilfields in the north. | The government has offered a ceasefire, but the army says its forces are still battling over oilfields in the north. |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he had contacted President Kiir and Mr Machar "to urge them both to commit to an immediate ceasefire". | |
| Mr Hague said he had encouraged them "to enter into negotiations immediately and without preconditions" and offered the UK's diplomatic support. | |
| 'Volatile' | 'Volatile' |
| South Sudanese government troops are currently in control of Bor, the capital of Jonglei state they had taken from the rebels. | |
| The group that had been marching on the town were part of an ethnic Nuer militia known as the White Army because of the white ash they put on their skin to protect them from insects. | The group that had been marching on the town were part of an ethnic Nuer militia known as the White Army because of the white ash they put on their skin to protect them from insects. |
| South Sudanese government spokesmen were quoted as saying it numbered as many as 25,000 armed men and answers to the former vice-president, but these details were not been confirmed. | South Sudanese government spokesmen were quoted as saying it numbered as many as 25,000 armed men and answers to the former vice-president, but these details were not been confirmed. |
| The UN had expressed concerns about the "wildcard" fighters. A spokesman said a UN surveillance flight had located the group 50 km north-east of Bor, but did not reveal its size or whether it was moving. | The UN had expressed concerns about the "wildcard" fighters. A spokesman said a UN surveillance flight had located the group 50 km north-east of Bor, but did not reveal its size or whether it was moving. |
| But South Sudan's Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, told the BBC on Sunday that Nuer community leaders in Jonglei state had persuaded the fighters to go home. | But South Sudan's Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, told the BBC on Sunday that Nuer community leaders in Jonglei state had persuaded the fighters to go home. |
| He said only a "small group" refused to disband, although an exact number was not known. | He said only a "small group" refused to disband, although an exact number was not known. |
| Joe Contreras, a spokesman for the UN Mission in South Sudan, described the group as "a volatile and unpredictable ingredient" to the unrest in South Sudan. | Joe Contreras, a spokesman for the UN Mission in South Sudan, described the group as "a volatile and unpredictable ingredient" to the unrest in South Sudan. |
| "They are a wildcard whose intervention in the theatre of conflict outside Bor could ratchet up the conflict even further." | "They are a wildcard whose intervention in the theatre of conflict outside Bor could ratchet up the conflict even further." |
| Ceasefire | Ceasefire |
| Mr Machar was deputy president until Mr Kiir sacked him in July. | Mr Machar was deputy president until Mr Kiir sacked him in July. |
| Earlier this month fighting broke out between rival army factions after Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar of trying to unseat him in a coup. | Earlier this month fighting broke out between rival army factions after Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar of trying to unseat him in a coup. |
| Mr Machar said on Friday his forces were in control of the whole of the states of Jonglei and Unity, apart from Bor. | Mr Machar said on Friday his forces were in control of the whole of the states of Jonglei and Unity, apart from Bor. |
| He said he had a negotiating team ready but any ceasefire had to be credible, properly monitored and preceded by the release of 11 detainees accused of being co-conspirators in the coup plan. | He said he had a negotiating team ready but any ceasefire had to be credible, properly monitored and preceded by the release of 11 detainees accused of being co-conspirators in the coup plan. |
| Mr Kiir has refused to accept any preconditions for a ceasefire. | Mr Kiir has refused to accept any preconditions for a ceasefire. |