This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/31/south-sudan-truce-rebel-leader-talks-machar

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
South Sudan truce possible after rebel leader agrees to peace talks South Sudan truce possible after rebel leader agrees to peace talks
(about 1 hour later)
There are hopes that a truce could be agreed in South Sudan's nascent civil war after the leader of a rebellion said he is ready to enter peace talks with the government. A truce in South Sudan's nascent civil war edged a step closer on Tuesday when the leader of a rebellion said he was ready to enter peace talks with the government.
Riek Machar told the BBC that he is sending a three-person delegation to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where the government also confirmed it would have a team. "We are going there," South Sudan's foreign minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told Reuters. Riek Machar told the BBC that he was sending a three-person delegation to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where the government confirmed it would have also a team. "We are going there," South Sudan's foreign minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, told Reuters.
But Benjamin also warned that there is no question of the country's president Salva Kiir sharing power with Machar, his former vice-president, because the latter had launched a coup to overthrow the rightful leader. But Benjamin also warned that there was no question of the country's president, Salva Kiir, sharing power with Machar, his former vice-president, because the latter had launched a coup to overthrow the rightful leader.
The United States special envoy to South Sudan, Donald Booth, told The Associated Press that the commitment of both sides to attende peace talks is "a first but very important step to achieving a cessation of hostilities" and the beginning of negotiations to resolve the crisis. The United States special envoy to South Sudan, Donald Booth, told the Associated Press that the commitment by both sides to attend peace talks was "a first but very important step to achieving a cessation of hostilities" and the beginning of negotiations to resolve the crisis.
Fighting in the world's newest country erupted in mid-December and has since killed more than 1,000 people and displaced up to 180,000, according to the UN. Most analysts say the conflict is fundamentally political but has since taken on ethnic overtones.Fighting in the world's newest country erupted in mid-December and has since killed more than 1,000 people and displaced up to 180,000, according to the UN. Most analysts say the conflict is fundamentally political but has since taken on ethnic overtones.
On Tuesday Machar claimed his forces had captured the key town of Bor. This would help him to negotiate from a position of strength but it remained unclear whether his forces had seized only sections of the town. On Tuesday, Machar claimed his forces had captured the key town of Bor. This would help him to negotiate from a position of strength but it remained unclear whether his forces had seized only sections of the town.
Nhial Majak Nhial, the mayor of Bor, said: "The town is still partly in our hands and partly in the hands of the rebels."Nhial Majak Nhial, the mayor of Bor, said: "The town is still partly in our hands and partly in the hands of the rebels."
The South Sudanese military said 2,100 troops were fighting renegade forces loyal to Machar as well as a pro-Machar tribal militia known as the "white army" – known for putting white ash onto their bodies as a kind of war-paint. The South Sudanese military said 2,100 troops were fighting renegade forces loyal to Machar as well as a pro-Machar tribal militia known as the "white army" – known for putting white ash on to their bodies as a kind of war paint.
Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, has become one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds of the conflict. It was seized by Peter Gadet, a rebel commander loyal to Machar, then returned to government control after several days of heavy fighting. Now it appeared Gadet was working alongside the white army in a bid to retake it. Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, has become one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds. It was seized by Peter Gadet, a rebel commander loyal to Machar, then returned to government control after several days of heavy fighting.
About 70,000 civilians have fled Bor and sought refuge in the town of Awerial in neighbouring Lakes state, with no access to food, clean water or shelter, according to medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières. "Living conditions are verging on the catastrophic," it said. Now it appeared Gadet was working alongside the white army in a bid to retake it.
About 70,000 civilians have fled Bor and sought refuge in the town of Awerial in neighbouring Lakes state, with no access to food, clean water or shelter, according to the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières. "Living conditions are verging on the catastrophic," it said.
Just 75 miles from South Sudan's capital, Juba, Bor is also the town where gunfire hit three US military aircraft trying to evacuate American citizens on 21 December, injuring four American personnel.Just 75 miles from South Sudan's capital, Juba, Bor is also the town where gunfire hit three US military aircraft trying to evacuate American citizens on 21 December, injuring four American personnel.
South Sudan has been hit by unrest since 15 December, when fighting among presidential guards spiralled across the country. Although Juba has since become calm, violence persists in other parts of the oil-producing east African country. Rebel forces still control Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state.South Sudan has been hit by unrest since 15 December, when fighting among presidential guards spiralled across the country. Although Juba has since become calm, violence persists in other parts of the oil-producing east African country. Rebel forces still control Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state.
Although Kiir insists the unrest was sparked by a coup mounted by soldiers loyal to Machar, this account has been disputed by some officials who claim violence broke out when presidential guards from Kiir's majority Dinka tribe tried to disarm guards from the Nuer ethnic group of Machar. Kiir insists the unrest was sparked by a coup mounted by soldiers loyal to Machar but this account has been disputed by some officials, who claim violence broke out when presidential guards from Kiir's majority Dinka tribe tried to disarm guards from the Nuer ethnic group of Machar.
On Monday Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, said neighbouring countries would unite to defeat Machar if he failed to halt the rebellion. Museveni said regional leaders "shall have to go for" Machar should he reject peace talks, an apparent military threat that raised the danger of a wider regional conflict. On Monday, Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, said neighbouring countries would unite to defeat Machar if he failed to halt the rebellion. Museveni said regional leaders "shall have to go for" Machar should he reject peace talks, an apparent military threat that raised the danger of a wider regional conflict.
The African Union threatened sanctions late on Monday against those inciting the violence and hampering international efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting.The African Union threatened sanctions late on Monday against those inciting the violence and hampering international efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting.
Machar said his delegation to Addis Ababa will be led by Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, the widow of John Garang, who led south Sudanese rebel forces against Sudan for many years. Machar had previously insisted that 11 detainees accused of being co-conspirators in the coup plan be released before he enter negotiations. Machar said his delegation to Addis Ababa would be led by Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, the widow of John Garang, who led south Sudanese rebel forces against Sudan for many years. Machar had previously insisted that 11 detainees accused of being co-conspirators in the coup plan be released before he enter negotiations.
South Sudan, born in a blaze of optimism in July 2011 when it gained independence from Sudan, has been riven by ethnic tension and a power struggle within the governing party that seems to have escalated after Kiir sacked Machar as his deputy in July this year. Machar has condemned Kiir as a dictator and says he will contest the 2015 presidential election.South Sudan, born in a blaze of optimism in July 2011 when it gained independence from Sudan, has been riven by ethnic tension and a power struggle within the governing party that seems to have escalated after Kiir sacked Machar as his deputy in July this year. Machar has condemned Kiir as a dictator and says he will contest the 2015 presidential election.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.