S. Sudan's rebels blame continued cease-fire violation on gov't troops

JUBA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Sudan People's Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) led by the former First Vice President Riek Machar on Wednesday blamed government troops (SPLA) for continued cease-fire violation in the wake of the latest deadly clash on Tuesday near the capital.

"At about 10:30 am, government forces attacked the SPLA-IO base in Wunu'Lyet about 3 km away from Luri. They came on two Land Cruisers pickups but were repulsed and scattered leaving behind four dead bodies and six injured while our freedom fighters sustained two injuries," the deputy rebel spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said in a statement on Wednesday.

However, the SPLA spokesman Brigadier Lul Ruai Koang, said he was not aware of any clash with the rebels at Wunu'Lyet area. "I cannot confirm any clash with the rebels at Wunu'Lyet," said Koang in Juba.

The rebel spokesman also disclosed that they are aware of government troops planning to attack them in Liech State in the areas of Leer, Mayendit and Koch.

The two warring parties agreed to the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa late December last year, but continued violations have dampened hopes of achieving a lasting solution to ending the more than four years of conflict in the nation.

South Sudan has been embroiled in four years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April 2016, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July the same year. Enditem