Juba: At least 55 people were killed and scores wounded in fighting between south Sudan`s army and rebel militiamen, the latest in a wave of bloody clashes in the soon to be independent state, a government official said on Sunday.
Fighting raged for about three hours on Saturday in Jonglei state, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the town of Malakal, between the southern Sudan People`s Liberation Army (SPLA) and gunmen led by former militia leader Gabriel Tang, also known as Tang-Ginye.
"The shooting started in a place called Kaldak on Saturday morning, and there was heavy fighting," said Peter Lam Both, information minister for Upper Nile state, speaking from the state capital Malakal.
"Around 50 soldiers from Tang-Ginye, and five of his generals were killed."
There were no details of any deaths from the SPLA, but both said dozens of wounded troops had been brought to Malakal for treatment.
Bureau Report
