South Sudan's East African neighbors called on the clashing factions in the violence-stricken country to meet for peace talks until Tuesday, warning that they will be forced to take further action if the talks do not happen.
Leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states held a summit Friday in Kenyan capital Nairobi to end the turmoil that has rocked the world's newest country over the last few days.
The summit passed a 19-point decision including a call for immediate end of hostilities as well as a call for peace talks by all stakeholders to be held within four days.
The IGAD statement also issued an ultimatum that further unspecified measures will be considered if hostilities would not cease within the specified period.
Diplomatic sources say possible peace talks were likely to be held in Nairobi or the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since mid-December, when President Salva Kiir Mayardit accused former vice-president Riek Machar of making a failed coup attempt. Subsequent government crackdown landed many of Machar's supporters in jail, but Machar managed to flee to South Sudan's Jonglei State, a stronghold of his Nuer tribe. Although he had earlier denied involvement in the alleged coup, Machar's forces have reportedly captured parts of the country's Jonglei and Unity states.
Meanwhile, 21 Turkish citizens have been evacuated from the country as the plane carrying them landed in Ankara just after midnight on Friday.
"We have witnessed death, people who have been killed," said one of the evacuees, Siyami Hocaoglu, at Esenboga International Airport after the arrival.
