South Sudan's unity gov't to release prisoners of war

South Sudan's transitional government announced on Friday that it will free more than 200 prisoners of war from both sides of a more-than-two-year civil conflict.

Information Minister Michael Makuei said a total of 224 prisoners of war would be released as a key step to shore up peace and reconciliation in a country that has just begun to heal from the civil war.

"It is agreed that all prisoners of war should be released," Makuei told journalists after a cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir in the capital Juba.

The government spokesperson did not specify when the release will take place but said the process should have started earlier this year.

He said President Kiir's side will release about 59 prisoners while the Sudan People Liberation Movement-in-Opposition led by Riek Machar will free 165. All these prisoners will be handed over to their previous institutions.

Earlier this month, First Vice President Machar, the former rebel leader, said prisoners of war and those "detained politically" should be released in order to ensure peace and stability.

"If you have peace agreement and now form a transitional government of national unity, you cannot keep your citizens as prisoners of war. These are the immediate things that need to be done with the formation of transitional government," Machar said on May 5.

South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013 when President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the charge but then formed his rebel force.

Tens of thousands have been killed in the war which has split the country along ethnic lines.

Machar returned to Juba and was reconciled with Kiir late last month under a peace agreement signed by the two in August last year under UN pressure.

Machar took up his old post as vice president on the day of his return and a transitional government of national unity was formed days later. Endit