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Key South Sudan town of Bor 'recaptured from rebels' | Key South Sudan town of Bor 'recaptured from rebels' |
(35 minutes later) | |
The strategic South Sudanese town of Bor has been recaptured from rebel forces, an army spokesman has said. | The strategic South Sudanese town of Bor has been recaptured from rebel forces, an army spokesman has said. |
Government forces had defeated more than 15,000 rebel troops in Bor, army spokesman Philip Aguer said. There has been no comment from the rebels. | Government forces had defeated more than 15,000 rebel troops in Bor, army spokesman Philip Aguer said. There has been no comment from the rebels. |
Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, has changed hands several times in a month-long conflict that is believed to have left thousands dead. | Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, has changed hands several times in a month-long conflict that is believed to have left thousands dead. |
Talks to try to find a ceasefire are continuing in Ethiopia. | Talks to try to find a ceasefire are continuing in Ethiopia. |
The conflict between rebel and government forces broke out on 15 December. President Salva Kiir has accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup - an accusation he denies. | The conflict between rebel and government forces broke out on 15 December. President Salva Kiir has accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup - an accusation he denies. |
The dispute has seen killings along ethnic lines - Mr Kiir is a member of the Dinka community, the country's largest, while Mr Machar is from the Nuer ethnic group. | |
On Thursday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni confirmed Ugandan troops were now fighting alongside government forces against the rebels. | |
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting. | Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting. |
'Malakal attack' | 'Malakal attack' |
Col Aguer told reporters that previous assaults had weakened the rebels in Bor and no further fighting was needed on Saturday. | Col Aguer told reporters that previous assaults had weakened the rebels in Bor and no further fighting was needed on Saturday. |
Col Aguer said the victory eliminated the psychological pressure of a rebel attack on the capital, Juba. | Col Aguer said the victory eliminated the psychological pressure of a rebel attack on the capital, Juba. |
He also said the focus would now fall on the town of Malakal, still party controlled by the rebels, with the government forces planning an imminent attack. | He also said the focus would now fall on the town of Malakal, still party controlled by the rebels, with the government forces planning an imminent attack. |
But Col Aguer admitted maintaining communication with government forces there was "difficult". | But Col Aguer admitted maintaining communication with government forces there was "difficult". |
The BBC's Mark Lowen, in Juba, says Bor has changed hands a number of times already - and it is not inconceivable that Riek Machar could mobilise his forces for another assault. | The BBC's Mark Lowen, in Juba, says Bor has changed hands a number of times already - and it is not inconceivable that Riek Machar could mobilise his forces for another assault. |
Talks to try to agree a ceasefire are continuing in a hotel in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. | Talks to try to agree a ceasefire are continuing in a hotel in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. |
There have been conflicting reports about progress in the discussions, but no breakthrough has yet been signalled. | |
Our correspondent says it is widely believed that the talks have stalled because both sides are aiming for an upper hand in the fighting before real negotiations begin. | |
The release of political detainees continues to be a key issue that must be resolved. | |
On Friday, UN Human Rights fact finder Ivan Simonovic told the BBC that Bor and Bentiu, which have both changed hands a number of times, were now "ghost towns". | |
Mr Simonovic said both government soldiers and rebels had committed atrocities. | |
He said there had been reports of "mass killings, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, widespread destruction and looting of property and use of the children in conflict". |