South Sudan army kills over 92 rebels in renewed clash in northern town

JUBA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior South Sudan official confirmed Friday that over 92 rebels have been killed by the army (SPLA) in the wake of renewed fighting in the restive northern town of Leer in Southern Liech State.

The Minister of Information Michael Makuei told journalists that the SPLA-in opposition (rebels) under former First Vice President Riek Machar suffered huge losses after they attacked government soldiers on Thursday.

"There was an attack on Leer by the rebels on Thursday and in that attack the rebels incurred a lot of casualties, because they are the ones who made the attack when our forces were in the trenches. According to the report we received, they got heavy casualties which amounted to almost 92 killed," Makuei said in Juba.

The latest clashes follow a week long fighting late October in which 22 rebels were killed in Rup-Kuai region.

Makuei revealed that the rebels attacked government troops in their trenches, which the rebels denied.

"Our forces did not give them any hot pursuit in accordance with the directive of the president on cessation of hostilities. Our forces have decided to be in their trenches and wait for whoever attacks them and they are there to defend themselves," Makuei said.

However, deputy rebel spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said the SPLA attacked them first at Gandour area of Leer before they were repulsed.

"The SPLA (IO) had been able to maintain its previous position and routed the enemy's forces, leaving behind 53 dead bodies and 93 injured. We lost 5 heroes and 4 sustained minor injuries," said Gabriel.

He also said and aggression by the government forces who claim to be observing ceasefire.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel chief Machar led to split within the SPLA, leaving soldiers to fight alongside ethnic lines.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the conflict was weakened after outbreak of renewed fighting in July 2016 caused the SPLA-in opposition rebel leader Machar to flee the capital. Enditem