S Sudan army, rebels clash - 4 dead
2013-01-28 19:00
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Juba - A tension-filled showdown in the middle of a market
town between rebels and South Sudan's military led to the deaths of four
civilians and at least 2 000 people seeking refuge with the UN, officials said on
Monday.
The fighting took place on Sunday in Pibor, where government
forces have been trying to stamp out a rebellion led by David Yau Yau, a former
colonel in South Sudan's military. Violence began when James Kuburin, a former
commander for Yau Yau who has joined the government, tried to enter Pibor's
market, said Beko Konyi, a spokesperson for the Pibor County commissioner.
Military police refused to allow Kuburin to enter, leading
to an argument that resulted in a grenade going off, killing one military
policeman, Konyi said.
A second government official said that members of the
military - the SPLA - "retaliated" for the death by opening fire,
killing three women and one man. The official said he was not allowed to be
identified. Konyi also said four civilians were killed.
Colonel Philip Aguer, a military spokesperson, denied that
SPLA forces started the fighting. He said one member of the military was
killed.
Kouider Zerrouk, a UN spokesperson, said at least 2 000
civilians had taken refuge at a UN base in Pibor. Zerrouk described the
situation as calm but tense.
Sunday's violence was the latest of several incidents in
which the SPLA has been implicated in violence against civilians. Last year
human rights groups published reports accusing the SPLA of torture and rape
during a disarmament campaign in Pibor County.
- AP
