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Arab League voices concern over South Sudan deadly clashes

Xinhua, July 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) voiced concern over the recent deadly clashes in South Sudan between loyalists of the country's president and vice-president in the capital Juba, the pan-Arab body said in a statement Monday.

"Escalation of violence and fights to reach several areas in South Sudan topped by the capital city Juba may have serious consequences that could be hard to control or completely contain in the short run," the statement warned.

Hundreds have been killed in the recent three-day confrontations in South Sudan's capital Juba between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and troops backing his rival Vice-President Riek Machar. South Sudan's health ministry said 271 were killed in the fighting on Friday alone.

"This issue raises great fears about the future of security and stability in this newly-established country that represents an important neighborhood to the Arab region," the AL statement added.

That Arab organization also urged the fighting parties to abide by the peace agreement they signed in August 2015, which ended a civil war that broke up in December 2013.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Ministry also expressed "great concern" over South Sudan deadly clashes, calling both sides for self-restraint to avoid returning to war and destruction and waste the gains of peace.

"Egypt will always be ready to provide assistance to the brothers in South Sudan to overcome their disagreements," the Egyptian ministry said in a statement Monday, voicing support for every regional and international effort to end bloodshed and restore stability in South Sudan. Endit