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South Sudan troops 'recapture key oil city of Bentiu' South Sudan troops recapture key oil city of Bentiu
(about 4 hours later)
South Sudanese government forces have recaptured the oil hub of Bentiu from rebels, an army spokesman has told the BBC. South Sudan's military has recaptured the oil hub of Bentiu - one of just two rebel-held cities.
Col Philip Aguer said the final resistance - a tank protecting a bridge to the city - had been overcome at 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT). Army spokesman Philip Aguer said the final resistance - a tank protecting a bridge to the city - had been overcome at 14:30 local time (11:30 GMT).
The rebels have not commented. Rebel leader Riek Machar told AFP his forces had withdrawn to save civilians but vowed to fight on.
UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous says the conflict has killed "very substantially in excess" of 1,000 people since 15 December. The UN peacekeeping chief says the conflict has killed "very substantially in excess" of 1,000 people.
Ceasefire talks in neighbouring Ethiopia have stalled.Ceasefire talks in neighbouring Ethiopia have stalled.
Bentiu is the capital of the oil-rich Unity state. The fighting has seen South Sudan's oil output fall by about 20%. Bentiu is the capital of the oil-rich Unity state. The fighting, which began on 15 December, has seen South Sudan's oil output fall by about 20%.
Col Aguer told Reuters news agency: "When you control Bentiu you control all the oil fields in Unity state."Col Aguer told Reuters news agency: "When you control Bentiu you control all the oil fields in Unity state."
Ahead of the government advance, thousands of people fled Bentiu, one of two main cities seized by rebel forces.Ahead of the government advance, thousands of people fled Bentiu, one of two main cities seized by rebel forces.
Several thousand have sought refuge in a UN base in the city, where people have been divided according to their ethnic group in order to prevent clashes.Several thousand have sought refuge in a UN base in the city, where people have been divided according to their ethnic group in order to prevent clashes.
The conflict has seen outbreaks of ethnic slaughter betweens Dinkas, the community of President Salva Kiir, and Nuers, like rebel leader Riek Machar. The conflict has seen outbreaks of ethnic violence between Dinkas, the community of President Salva Kiir, and Nuers, like Mr Machar.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in the South Sudan capital, Juba, says he understands that rebel forces withdrew from Bentiu ahead of the government advance. Although both leaders have influential backers from the other's community, the conflict has often taken an ethnic dimension.
He says the question now is whether its fall will prompt negotiators in Ethiopia to reach a ceasefire agreement to avoid further fighting. "We withdrew from Bentiu, but it was to avoid fighting in the streets and save civilian lives. We fight on, we will continue the battle," Mr Machar, the country's vice-president until last July, told the AFP news agency.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, says the question now is whether the recapture of Bentiu will spur on negotiators in Ethiopia to reach a ceasefire agreement to avoid further fighting.
Mr Machar said his anti-government alliance was still committed to peace talks.
Earlier, Col Aguer urged all civilians to leave Bentiu to avoid being caught in the crossfire.Earlier, Col Aguer urged all civilians to leave Bentiu to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"The earlier they leave, the better," he told the BBC's Outside Source programme.
He did not give any casualty figures but said that fighters on both sides had been killed.He did not give any casualty figures but said that fighters on both sides had been killed.
The colonel told the Associated Press news agency that rebel forces had "destroyed'' the town, looting the bank, stealing food and setting the market on fire.
UN envoy in South Sudan Toby Lanzer, earlier tweeted from Bentiu that UN peacekeepers had built up defences at the UN base to protect civilians.UN envoy in South Sudan Toby Lanzer, earlier tweeted from Bentiu that UN peacekeepers had built up defences at the UN base to protect civilians.
Swimming under gunfireSwimming under gunfire
Col Aguer said that from Friday afternoon, all the government forces would be focused on recapturing Bor - the other city under rebel control.Col Aguer said that from Friday afternoon, all the government forces would be focused on recapturing Bor - the other city under rebel control.
On Thursday, people fleeing Bor told the AFP news agency that gunmen had shot dead fleeing civilians, torched entire villages and looted crops. On Thursday, people fleeing Bor told AFP that gunmen had shot dead fleeing civilians, torched entire villages and looted crops.
One cattle herder told of swimming across the River Nile while being shot at.One cattle herder told of swimming across the River Nile while being shot at.
"They [the attackers] had a machine gun raised up on a sandbank, and they fired and fired and fired as we swam," Gabriel Bol told AFP."They [the attackers] had a machine gun raised up on a sandbank, and they fired and fired and fired as we swam," Gabriel Bol told AFP.
"The bullets were hitting the water, but we knew we could not stop or they'd shoot us.""The bullets were hitting the water, but we knew we could not stop or they'd shoot us."
Mr Ladsous on Thursday night told the UN Security Council that more than 250,000 had fled their homes because of the conflict. UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous on Thursday night told the UN Security Council that more than 250,000 had fled their homes because of the conflict.
South Sudan is the world's newest state. It became independent in 2011 after seceding from Sudan.South Sudan is the world's newest state. It became independent in 2011 after seceding from Sudan.