South Sudan rivals 'to sign truce'

The UN estimates that considerably more than 1,000 have been killed in South Sudan over the last month

South Sudan's government and rebels are to sign a ceasefire shortly, mediators in Ethiopia say.

The talks had been deadlocked over the issue of 11 political detainees, whom the rebels want to be freed before discussing a ceasefire.

In the past week, government forces have recaptured the two main cities under rebel control.

More than 500,000 people have been forced from their homes during the month-long conflict.

What started out as a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar on 15 December has escalated into full-scale conflict, with reports of ethnic killings.

Mediators said they expected the rival parties to sign agreements on the "cessation of hostilities and the question of the detainees", at 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT) at the hotel in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, where the talks have been taking place.