Kerry sends envoy to South Sudan as violence grows

(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is sending a special envoy to South Sudan following an escalation of violence in the world's newest nation.

Ambassador Donald Booth, the special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, will leave Friday.

"Now is the time for South Sudan's leaders to rein in armed groups under their control, immediately cease attacks on civilians, and end the chain of retributive violence between different ethnic and political groups," Kerry said in a statement. "The violence must stop, the dialogue must intensify."

Also on Friday, National Security Adviser Susan Rice recorded an audio message to the people to South Sudan.

"I ask each of you to make the choice for peace -- make the choice for a unified and cohesive South Sudan," she said. "Make this choice for yourselves and your children."

Attackers killed two Indian army peacekeepers in South Sudan and wounded a third one in the chest, the United Nations said Friday.

At least two of the 30 civilians who took refuge at the United Nations' Akobo base were killed in the attack Thursday, said Joseph Contreras, the U.N. spokesman for South Sudan. It could have been as many as 20 who died in that attack U.N. officials estimated.

Their remains will be taken to the capital of Juba.

Deadly clashes have raged South Sudan for days after a reported coup attempt in the capital over the weekend

President Salva Kiir blamed soldiers loyal to his former vice president, Riek Machar, for starting the violence.

Casualties are in the hundreds, including soldiers, the government said.

Thousands flee fighting in South Sudan U.S. President Barack Obama sent 45 service members to South Sudan to support U.S. personnel and the American Embassy. "In 2011, millions of South Sudanese voted to forge a new nation, founded on the promise of a more peaceful and prosperous future for all of South Sudan's people," Obama said in a prepared statement. "In recent years, against great odds, South Sudan has made great progress toward breaking the cycle of violence that characterized much of its history. "Today, that future is at risk. South Sudan stands at the precipice. Recent fighting threatens to plunge South Sudan back into the dark days of its past," the President said. Tensions have been high in South Sudan since Kiir dismissed his entire Cabinet, including Machar, in July. The move inflamed deep tensions between Kiir's Dinka community and Machar's Nuer community. U.N. officials have said they are worried the recent fighting is based on ethnic divisions, but the government has disputed that assertion. Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the foiled coup CNN's Zain Verjee and Clare Hayes contributed to this report. Part of complete coverage on December 19, 2013 -- Updated 1704 GMT (0104 HKT)

Google's acquisition of a military robot maker prompts Douglas Rushkoff to ask how the deal fits the company's value of "don't be evil."

After their leader Kim Jong Un had his own uncle executed, how do ordinary North Koreans feel?

December 20, 2013 -- Updated 1226 GMT (2026 HKT)

Despite wanting to be a great power, India often fails to behave like one, writes Jeremy Carl.

December 21, 2013 -- Updated 0035 GMT (0835 HKT)

What scope do western governments have to influence change for the better?

December 19, 2013 -- Updated 1319 GMT (2119 HKT)

Extremist attacks of the kind that claimed the life of UK soldier Lee Rigby do not come out of thin air, analysts say.

December 20, 2013 -- Updated 1814 GMT (0214 HKT)

From tycoon bankruptcies to billion-dollar takeovers, 2013 has been a roller coaster year.

December 19, 2013 -- Updated 1026 GMT (1826 HKT)

Which has been the craziest year in travel history? It just could be 2013.

December 19, 2013 -- Updated 1216 GMT (2016 HKT)

Kickstarter is one of the world's largest crowdfunding websites -- over 53,000 projects have been born.

December 20, 2013 -- Updated 1642 GMT (0042 HKT)

Browse through images you don't always see in news reports, taken by CNN teams all around the world.

December 20, 2013 -- Updated 1525 GMT (2325 HKT)

Each day, CNN brings you an image capturing a moment to remember. Look back at the photographs that chronicled 2013.

December 20, 2013 -- Updated 0236 GMT (1036 HKT)

Never mind the baubles -- one of these Christmas trees is made of macaroons.

December 19, 2013 -- Updated 1203 GMT (2003 HKT)

What do you need to map a billion stars? A billion-pixel camera certainly helps.

Source http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/20/world/africa/south-sudan-violence/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular