Rebels Claim Pursuit Of SPLA Out Of Malakal South Sudan rebels on Wednesday claim they were pursuing the government forces outside Malakal town. The rebels also claim the full control of Malakal town, the state capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state. 20 February 2014 South Sudanese government soldiers. [File]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu *JUBA - 20 February 2014 [Gurtong] - *Speaking to Radio Miraya on Wednesday, the rebels' Spokesman Lul Ruai: "I am not sure if there is any fighting inside Malakal town. May be outside Malakal town where our forces are still pursuing the government forces. They are running towards Akoka," Lul said. Lul claimed that there have been bombings on their forces on Wednesday morning by Ugandan troops. He denied claims by the SPLA that they are involved in looting in the town but he instead said they are peacefully positioning themselves. The rebels' mouthpiece said fighting escalated on Tuesday after when the SPLA started gunfire on their positions. The rebels claim full control of Malakal on Tuesday after overrunning the SPLA but the national army Spokesman Philip Aguer said the rebels are only on the southern part of the state capital. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan's (UNMISS) acting Spokesperson Joe Contreras, could not ascertain who between the rebels and government forces control Malakal town since its people were unable to get out of the UN compound. The fresh clashes bring to question the respect on the cessation of hostilities signed by both parties last month. Ateny Wek Ateny, the Spokesman in the Office of the President on Tuesday told press that, government still feels not threatened by the clashes, saying President Salva Kiir has instructed the government delegation for the peace talks in Addis Ababa to continue with the talks. Partners including the United State and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday called on both parties to refrain from the clashes. They warned that continuation of fighting would only worsen the insecurity and humanitarian situation in the country. Following the outbreak of the crisis in December last year, over 800,000 according to the United Nations are affected with thousands fleeing to neighbouring countries. The United Nations has made an aid appeal cash of US$1.27b to rescue the humanitarian situation for just a period of six months. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx> , Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14ooowtf7430pcPBLL7j-ib3Kj1E0zrpZf_cfr3mAOxZ08Q%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
