20 killed in South Sudan army clashes with rebels

[News_Editor]

20 killed in South Sudan army clashes with rebels

2011-02-10 23:20:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

JUBA, SOUTHERN SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least 20 people were killed on Wednesday after forces loyal to General George Athor attacked the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), shattering a ceasefire agreed last month, the Sudan Tribune reported.

George Athor said SPLA attacked his fighters in different locations in Jonglei state. Other media reports, however, said the fighting started when armed groups loyal to Athor attacked an army base.

"The SPLA forces launched an attack on three of our operational outposts today in Koliet, Kolnyang and Fangak. They attack us at exactly 10.00 am in Koliet and Door and about 11.00 am in Fangak", Athor told Sudan Tribune by telephone from his base.

The rebel leader accused internal affairs minister in the government of South Sudan of organizing the attacks through the county commissioner and the minister law enforcement.

Dok James Puok, spokesman of the rebel leader, said three soldiers loyal to Athor were killed and was still waiting for reports from other places. Military sources confirmed the death of four soldiers and 12 rebels.

Athor, a former Sudan People' Liberation Movement member, took up arms last year, alleging fraud in state elections after losing the gubernatorial race, but signed a ceasefire last month.

The incident comes after referendum results confirmed that Southern Sudan would become the world's newest nation on July 9. The results released by the South Sudan Referendum Commission on Monday said 98.83 percent voted for separation from Sudan.

The vote was the culminating point of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ending two decades of civil war between the North and the South that killed some 2 million people and drove an estimated 4.5 million others from their homes.

On Wednesday, the top United Nations envoy in Sudan said that both the North and South have made "significant" progress on a wide range of follow-up arrangements between the two States.

Reports of violence in Southern Sudan have emerged in the past weeks after the peaceful referendum in January. Last week, at least 50 people died in four days after a mutiny in the Sudan army spread through towns in south Sudan's Upper Nile state.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-02-10