JUBA
The South Sudanese army has thwarted an attack by rebel forces loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar on the northern city of Malakal, an army spokesman said on Saturday.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Philip Aguer said Machar's forces had attacked Malakal, the capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile State, late Friday but the army thwarted the attack.
According to the spokesman, ten rebel fighters were killed and two army soldiers were injured in the attack.
The South Sudanese army announced on March 19 that it had recaptured Malakal from the rebels.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when President Salva Kiir accused sacked Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt.
The violence has already claimed more than 10,000 lives.
The U.N. estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the violence.
By Atem Simon
englishnews@aa.com.tr
