S Sudan Crisis: Ceasefire Follows Fierce Fighting

Local Editor

South Sudan's president ordered a ceasefire Monday after a new day of heavy fighting in the capital Juba that sent thousands of people fleeing and threatened a return to civil war.

President Salva Kiir's ceasefire order Monday evening raised hopes of an end to four days of deadly fighting between the army and ex-rebels.

"The president has reiterated his commitment to the continued implementation of the [peace] agreement in letter and spirit, and thus issues an order of cessation of hostilities with immediate effect," Information Minister Michael Makuei said on state television.

There was no immediate response from rebel leader turned Vice President Riek Machar whose forces have been battling Kiir's soldiers on and off since Friday evening.

For its part, the United Nations expressed deep alarm over days of violence between the army and ex-rebels, which has left several hundred people dead and threatens the young nation's shaky peace.

The UN Mission in South Sudan [UNMISS] said "more than 7,000 people" had sought shelter at two compounds in Juba while fighting was also reported in the south-eastern town of Torit where thousands fled to a UN base.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team