19th December, 2013
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to "do everything possible" to the end the violence which broke out in the world’s newest state earlier this week.
There are reports hundreds of people have been killed following an attempted coup by soldiers loyal to former deputy president Riek Machar last weekend.
"I am deeply concerned about the current situation in South Sudan," Mr Ban told reporters on Wednesday. "I spoke to President Salva Kiir yesterday morning, urging him to do everything possible he can to end the violence and to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law."
As many as 20,000 people were camped out in the compounds of the UN Mission and World Food Programme in the capital of Juba on Wednesday. The UN Mission was attempting to verify reports of deaths.
– DAVID ADAMS
