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1st LD: Heavy gunfire erupted in South Sudan capital

Xinhua, July 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

Heavy exchanges of gunfire erupted early Sunday in the west of South Sudan's capital Juba, barely two days after clashes between rival army factions killed more than 100 people.

Witnesses said the gun battle between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar took place in areas near camps of Machar's forces and a large UN Protection of Civilian site. UN sources reported heavy gunfire near their camps.

There are claims that the army factions were fighting at Juba International Airpiort, which cannot be independently verified.

Clashes between the army factions on Friday outside the presidential palace killed more than 100 soldiers and was the most serious fighting since the reconciliation between President Kirr and former rebel leader Machar in April.

Kiir and Machar called for calm after Friday's deadly clashes. They said they were holding a meeting at the presidential palace when the fighting took place.

The renewed violence has raised fears that the war-torn country could descend into conflict again as an August 2015 peace deal failed to ensure stability.

Civil war broke out in South Sudan in December 2013 after fighting between forces loyal to President Kiir and his then sacked deputy Machar in Juba. Machar denied he was planning a coup but then mobilized a rebel force.

The deal signed by the two men last August under UN pressure led to the formation of a national unity government in April, with Machar returning to his old post. Enditem