Thousands fleeing S.Sudan clashes seek U.N. refuge
Doki | Reuters Middle East - 43 minutes ago
* Protest began after bodies of Dinka tribesmen found
* At least 13 killed, medical source
* Thousands seek refuge at U.N. compound in Wau
* S.Sudan plagued by tribal violence, rebellions
(Updates death count)
JUBA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Youths armed with sticks, machetes
and spears battled police in a South Sudanese town, forcing
thousands of civilians to seek refuge in a U.N. compound,
officials and witnesses said.
At least 13 people died in the clashes that broke out on
Wednesday in the northern town of Wau, a medical source told
Reuters.
South Sudan won independence from Sudan last year. Since
then its government has struggled to assert control over an
impoverished country the size of France that is awash with arms
after decades of civil war, rebellions and tribal clashes.
Details were unclear but government spokesman Barnaba Marial
Benjamin said the latest clashes broke out after the bodies of
six Dinka tribespeople were found in the town.
It was believed the six were among 28 farmers abducted in
retaliation for another outbreak of deadly violence in Wau
earlier this month when security forces opened fire on a protest
against plans to relocate a local authority's headquarters.
"Six bodies were brought to Wau town three days ago raising
tension among various communities in Wau, which is believed to
be the cause of yesterday's violence," Benjamin told a news
conference in the capital Juba.
It was not immediately clear why the kidnappers had chosen
to abduct those farmers.
Human rights groups regularly accuse South Sudan's army and
police, a collection of former guerillas, of heavy handed
tactics and human rights abuses - charges dismissed by the
security forces.
Up to 300 armed Dinka youth set fire to several buildings in
Wau, the main town of South Sudan's Western Bahr El Ghazal state
which borders Sudan, according to the United Nations. Police
used teargas to disperse the protest, while shooting could be
heard, residents said.
"Some youths ... began the shooting. Police intervened and
began exchanging fire with them," a witness told Reuters.
Benjamin declined to give details of any casualties, saying
only the government "regretted the loss of lives and destruction
of property".
MORE DEAD?
Kouider Zerrouk, spokesman for the U.N. Mission in South
Sudan, said thousands of civilians, mainly women and children,
had sought refuge at the U.N. compound in Wau.
"They are under the protection of the mission," he said.
James Deng Dimo, a journalist in Wau, said he had counted
four dead bodies and seen several injured people in hospitals.
"People are telling me that there are over 15 killed," he
said, adding that he had seen people wounded by machetes, sticks
and gunshot.
A medical source at a local hospital said five people had
died at her hospital and as many as eight had died at another
hospital.
"Other patients were taken to Comboni Hospital (another
local hospital) and others to small clinics around town. It
appears the number is higher than what I know," the source said,
asking not to be identified.
There were no report of further fighting on Thursday and
hundreds of police officers patrolled the streets after
reinforcements arrived from the capital Juba by plane. Many
residents were leaving the town.
"They are going to the rural areas because they fear there
might be a repeat. Where I am standing I can see people
carrying luggage like mattresses, beds and bags," Dimo said.
A lack of efficient state bodies and widespread violence has
hampered plans to attract investment to a country rich in
fertile land, oil and minerals.
(Reporting by Charlton Doki and Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew
Heavens)
Received on Thu Dec 20 2012 - 22:16:57 EST
