War in Bentiu and Nasir

May 04, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudanese government forces said Sunday they had overrun a key rebel base and that heavy fighting was raging for control of the northern oil hub of Bentiu following a major offensive.

“Our forces captured Nasir this morning. After we launched an assault yesterday with heavy bombardments, the town is ours,” South Sudan army spokesman Philip Aguer told AFP, adding that rebel leader Riek Machar had fled towards the Ethiopian border.

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The government offensive in Bentiu, capital of Unity State, comes two days after President Kiir told US Secretary of State John Kerry that he was prepared to hold direct peace talks with Mr Machar.

The BBC’s Alastair Leithead, in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) compound on the outskirts of the city, says he has heard gunfire coming out of the town, suggesting the battle is not yet over.