Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan called on Thursday for an investigation into the "assassination" of its nationals in a South Sudan oil town, where the UN has accused rebels of killing hundreds of civilians.
"The foreign ministry condemns assassination of the Sudanese nationals in Bentiu and calls for urgent investigation", the official SUNA news agency said in an SMS alert.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Monday that both South Sudanese and Sudanese -- some from Sudan's Darfur region -- were killed in "targeted killings" after rebels took Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan's oil-rich Unity state, from government forces last week.
In the main mosque alone, "more than 200 civilians were reportedly killed and over 400 wounded," UNMISS said. Civilians including children were also massacred at a church, hospital and an abandoned UN World Food Programme compound, it said.
"They (the rebels) searched a number of places where hundreds of South Sudanese and foreign civilians had taken refuge, and killed hundreds of the civilians after determining their ethnicity or nationality," a UN statement said.
In Khartoum, Sudan's foreign ministry spokesman Abubakr al-Siddiq told AFP it was not yet clear how many of the victims were Sudanese.
[1]Map locating Bentiu in South Sudan (AFP Photo/)
"Let us say dozens," he said, adding Khartoum is in contact with the UN over the incident.
The UN called for an investigation into one of the worst reported atrocities since fighting erupted in South Sudan last December.
Government forces are battling rebels loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar, who launched a renewed offensive this month targeting oil fields.
The rebels have dismissed as "cheap propaganda" accusations that, after seizing Bentiu, the gunmen spent two days hunting down those they believed opposed them.
The conflict has an ethnic dimension, pitting President Salva Kiir's Dinka people against militia forces from Machar's Nuer.
South Sudan became independent from Khartoum less than three years ago.
Western governments have commended Sudan's role in supporting regional efforts to bring peace to the South.
Kiir visited Khartoum in early April for talks with his counterpart President Omar al-Bashir.
- Unrest, Conflicts & War
- Politics & Government
- South Sudan
- Sudan
References
- ^ Map locating Bentiu in South Sudan (news.yahoo.com)
Source http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-seeks-probe-killing-nationals-sudan-085633671.html
Newer articles:
- South Sudan to free prisoners as pressure mounts for peace deal - 24/04/2014 18:00
- South Sudan treason charges dropped - 24/04/2014 16:36
- South Sudan president fires longtime army leader - 24/04/2014 15:15
- Embattled South Sudan president replaces army chief - 24/04/2014 14:34
- South Sudan stands at precipice, says Barack Obama - 24/04/2014 14:20
Older news items
- U.N. Security Council members considering South Sudan sanctions - 24/04/2014 10:55
- U.N. Considering Sanctions Over South Sudan Massacre - 24/04/2014 06:00
- U.N. Security Council members mulling South Sudan sanctions - 24/04/2014 05:29
- UN considering sanctions over South Sudan massacre - 24/04/2014 04:56
- S Sudan president sacks army chief - 24/04/2014 01:59
Latest news items (all categories):
- The citizens of South Sudan Should Disown the SPLM - 24/04/2025 17:12
- [video] South Sudan’s security crisis and the looming war - 24/04/2025 17:05
- South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Remembers Day Pope Francis Kissed his Feet in Heartfelt Tribute - 24/04/2025 16:58
- MTN Group reshuffles leadership in Rwanda, South Sudan - 24/04/2025 16:55
- South Sudan on brink again as fragile peace teeters - 24/04/2025 16:49
Random articles (all categories):
- Blow to South Sudan peace deal as Machar says he is not ready to return - 29/04/2019 08:11
- Ugandan Forces In South Sudan To Help Nationals There - 10/02/2014 06:51
- Sounds Of Silence In The Sudans - 29/12/2020 10:30
- Note to refugees from South Sudan: Israel is for the white man - The Independent (blog) - 22/06/2012 20:20
- Sudan appoints new central bank governor - 15/12/2013 14:48
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 94821 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22584 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21928 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 20613 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19475 times