CUEIBET CLASHES CIVILIAN VICTIMS SPEAK OF THEIR ORDEAL

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Some victims from Cueibet clashes, in Lakes State, between SPLA forces and civilians say they are innocent by-standers of revengeful attackers.

The fighting that started on Saturday followed the deaths of seven community members who were killed in cross fire as armed Gok Dinka tried to raid a SPLA weapons store for guns to retaliate against another clan that had recently raided them.

The guns were collected by the troops during a disarmament exercise in the area.

Speaking to Radio Good News from his hospital bed, one wounded man said he was going to collect the body of his brother when he was fired at and a bullet ripped through his chest.

Another patient explained he was in a group resolving a community problem under a mango tree when SPLA soldiers started shooting at them.

He added that one person died and the soldiers set some houses on fire.

A doctor at Rumbek hospital said of the nine wounded taken to the hospital three died of bullet wounds while the other six were in stable condition.

He called on the police to secure the area in order to avert revenge attacks against the wounded and relatives attending to them at Rumbek Hospital.

SPLA spokesman Kuol Deim Kuol told Agence France-Presse that fighting between Gok Dinka clan and troops over the weekend in Cueibet has killed at least 28, including seven soldiers.

The wounded in both sides are over 30 so far.