Fighting Over Malakal Rages On As Rebels Evacuate Their Wounded Upper Nile state (UNS) Information Minster Philip Jiben Ogal has said government forces (SPLA) have entered Malakal town and are fighting with the rebels for the control of the strategic town. 24 February 2014 Upper Nile state Information Minister and the Government Spokesperson Philip Jiben Ogal says rebels are evacuating their wounded colleagues from Malakal teaching hospital. [Gurtong file]
By Jok P Mayom *JUBA, 24 February 2014 [Gurtong] - *"Our gallant SPLA forces entered Malakal today and now they are inside Malakal in Muderia fighting the rebels' soldiers loyal to Riek Machar," Jiben said. Hon. Jiben said that the rebels are now evacuating their wounded soldiers from Malakal Teaching hospital to Nasir County, indicating that they may leave the town. He said that the rebels are still based in the Nasir, Maiwut and Ulang Counties of Upper Nile State. "I am now speaking to you from Detang and the SPLA forces are making the shelling inside the town as they pursue the rebels," said the minister. "The rebels are now on the run towards Nasir." The heavy fighting for control of Malakal town started on Tuesday between the rebels loyal to Machar and the SPLA. The SPLA troops pullout after a continuous fight of two days and cross to Wau-Shilluk. Hon. Jiben noted that the rebels burnt many houses and looted lots of property, an accusation Gurtong could not independently verify as it is difficult to get any comments from the rebels. The minister refuted claims by the rebels that they are heading toward the oil field, saying "it is a false". "How can they go to the oil field when they are engaged in the fight? Even now they are pulling out going back to Nasir and Ulang counties," he said. He said the rebels are leaving the town through the Anak-diar to Baliet going to Nasir and Maiwut counties which they still control. The international Medical Corps (IMC) operating in South Sudan has reported 148 wounded and 14 others couldn't be saved after sustaining serious injuries during fighting for the control Malakal town. 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> , Featured Stories<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/137/Featured-Stories.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/CAJb14ooPxRnPOsKL70B6FK4%2Bb5RcWGcjHeUfbiYEsyL0YLbFwA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
