South Sudan rivals exchange fresh accusations on ceasefire violation

KHARTOUM, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's warring parties have exchanged fresh accusations of ceasefire violation at Leer County in Unity State, local media reported Thursday.

"The government forces attacked our positions in various areas outside Leer town on Nov. 8, killing at least 19 people including a chief, a woman and a child," Radio Tamazuj quoted South Sudan's rebel spokesman in Leer County James Yoach as saying.

He described what happened as "a violation of human rights and the ceasefire agreement signed in Addis Ababa between the two sides."

He further accused the government forces of burning houses and looting citizens' properties, besides the abduction of women.

South Sudan army spokesperson Philip Aguer, for his part, denied the rebel accusations, saying that the rebels were the ones who attacked Leer town which is held by the government forces.

The two South Sudanese warring parties have repeatedly accused each other of violating the cease-fire agreement which aims to end violence in the newly-born state.

The two sides have recently declared their commitment to a comprehensive cease-fire that went into effect as of last Aug. 30 in accordance with a peace deal they signed last August under the patronage of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

South Sudan was plunged into violence in December 2013 when fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors led by his former deputy Riek Machar.

The conflict soon turned into an all-out war, with the violence taking on an ethnic dimension.

The clashes have killed thousands of South Sudanese and forced around 1.9 million to flee their homes.