There was fresh fighting between the SPLA and forces loyal to the defected general George Athor in Jonglei State.
The clash happened yesterday morning in Thoudiak.It was the third time that Mr. Athor’s troops clashed with the SPLA since he took to the bush at the beginning of the month with over 100 mutinied soldiers and a number of civilians.
Mr. Athor told the BBC over a satellite phone connection that his soldiers fought off a large-scale SPLA attack, killing 83 troops.
He added he lost four men.
The SPLA denied Mr. Athor’s claims.
Mr Athor was a defeated candidate for Jonglei governor and he insisted the polls were rigged.
On 30 April, Mr. Athor’s men attacked a SPLA barrack in Doliep Hills, near Malakal, killing 13 soldiers and one civilian, and wounding five civilians according to figures released yesterday by the UN.