By Halima Athumani
KAMPALA
The Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) on Friday denied claims that it had attacked civilians in the South Sudanese states of Equatoria, Unity and Jonglei.
"We have not committed any unison combat and we don't think we shall reach that level," UPDF chief Gen. Katumba Wamala told Anadolu Agency.
Gen. Taban Deng Gai, chief negotiator for the South Sudanese rebels at peace talks being held in Addis Ababa, has accused the UPDF of attacking civililians in the states of Equatoria, Unity and Jonglei.
He claimed that Ugandan planes were attacking areas of the three states on a daily basis.
"If our positions… are being jeopardized or compromised, then we will respond in the best way we know," said Wamala.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since mid-December, when President Salva Kiir accused his sacked vice president, Riek Machar, of standing behind a failed coup attempt against his regime.
Although Machar had initially denied involvement in the alleged coup attempt, his forces have since reportedly captured parts of the Jonglei and Unity states.
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