South Sudan clashes kill 23, officials say

Four weeks of clashes between South Sudan government and opposition forces in the north of the country have killed 23 people, authorities and police said on Sunday.

Tony Chol Ayat, information minister for the Ruweng administrative area, said that fighters from Riek Machar's SPLA-IO force had entered Ruweng from neighbouring Unity state. He said fighting from October 4 to Thursday left 23 people dead and 17 wounded.

Two police sources confirmed the death toll. Chol Ayat said more than 100,000 people had fled the fighting, while one police source confirmed that thousands had left the area.

A resident in Ruweng told AFP that SPLA-IO fighters had started fighting and that government forces built up on the front lines before the rebels were repelled. Another resident said there were fears of worsening conflict. Both residents spoke on condition of anonymity.

A South Sudan army spokesman would not comment, and forces loyal to Machar did not respond to an AFP query.

South Sudan is due to hold national elections on December 22 after repeated delays. Hundreds of people have died in clashes in recent weeks involving forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, forces of detained former vice president Riek Machar and other ethnic unrest.