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| S Sudan troops 'recapture' key oil town Malakal | S Sudan troops 'recapture' key oil town Malakal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The South Sudanese army says it has recaptured the key town of Malakal from rebels, after days of heavy fighting. | The South Sudanese army says it has recaptured the key town of Malakal from rebels, after days of heavy fighting. |
| Rebel forces staged an attack last week to seize Malakal, the capital of Unity state and the gateway to the oilfields of the Upper Nile region. | |
| The town has already changed hands several times since the conflict broke out between the government and rebels in December. | The town has already changed hands several times since the conflict broke out between the government and rebels in December. |
| More than 350,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, the UN says. | More than 350,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, the UN says. |
| Some 200 civilians drowned in a Nile ferry accident while fleeing fighting in Malakal last Sunday. | Some 200 civilians drowned in a Nile ferry accident while fleeing fighting in Malakal last Sunday. |
| 'Flushed out' | |
| Army spokesman Philip Aguer said the rebels "were flushed out of the town" and Malakal was "finally in the hands" of South Sudanese troops again. | |
| The announcement comes just days after the military also regained control of Bor, the capital of Jonglei state. | |
| The violence erupted on 15 December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers backing Riek Machar, his former vice-president. | The violence erupted on 15 December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers backing Riek Machar, his former vice-president. |
| President Kiir is a member of South Sudan's largest ethnic group, the Dinka, while Mr Machar is from the Nuer community - the country's second largest. | President Kiir is a member of South Sudan's largest ethnic group, the Dinka, while Mr Machar is from the Nuer community - the country's second largest. |
| The president accuses his ex-deputy of plotting a coup - an accusation Mr Machar denies. | |
| The conflict has seen reports of mass killings along ethnic lines even though both men have prominent supporters among their rival's community. | The conflict has seen reports of mass killings along ethnic lines even though both men have prominent supporters among their rival's community. |
| The UN estimates that more than 1,000 people have died since the conflict began on 15 December. | The UN estimates that more than 1,000 people have died since the conflict began on 15 December. |
| South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody conflict, to become the world's newest state. | South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody conflict, to become the world's newest state. |