UN chief in South Sudan over conflict

Juba, May 6 (IANS) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in South Sudan Tuesday for a one-day visit amid fighting between pro- and anti-government forces.

Ban is scheduled to meet South Sudan President Salva Kiir as well as civil society leaders, Xinhua reported citing a statement from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Ban has since the beginning of the crisis repeatedly urged the leaders to find a political solution and to put an immediate end to the violence.

Together with his special representative and head of the UNMISS Hilde F. Johnson, Ban will visit the protection of civilians site in the UNMISS Tomping compound.

The fighting resumed Monday in South Sudan's Unity state where UN peacekeepers are protecting some 23,000 displaced civilians.

UNMISS reported heavy fighting in Bentiu between Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and opposition soldiers, including in the vicinity of a UN base.

The conflict, which began in mid-December 2013, is believed to have left thousands of people dead and forced tens of thousands to seek refuge at UN bases around the country.