Security forces kill South Sudanese rebel leader George Athor

Security forces kill South Sudanese rebel leader George Athor

2011-12-21 09:13:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- South Sudanese rebel leader George Athor was among two people who were killed by security forces on Monday, the government announced on Tuesday. His followers have been blamed for killing hundreds of civilians.

South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar Teny said Athor was killed at around 6 p.m. local time on Monday when a Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) border patrol clashed with Athor and his followers in Morobo County, which is located in Central Equatoria state near the capital of Juba.

Machar said Athor had infiltrated South Sudan after traveling from Rwanda and driving through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. He said the rebel leader was heading to Central Equatoria to recruit rebels.

Athor, who holds the rank of Lieutenant General but defected from the SPLA in 2010 after losing the gubernatorial elections in Jonglei State, was considered to be one of South Sudan's biggest security threats after it became independent earlier this year.

"I appeal to all the followers of George Athor to heed the amnesty and pardon declared by the President of the Republic on July 9th, 2011," said Machar. "I call on all who rebelled against the government to lay down their arms and join the process of peace and development."

The vice president said Athor's body would be handed over to his relatives for burial.

In February, an estimated 200 people were killed when rebels loyal to Athor chased civilians, including children and elderly, into a river in Jonglei, the South's most populous state.

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