JUBA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's rebel group of SPLA-IO said on Sunday that at least 14 civilians were killed during the fighting between their forces and government troops in the western town of Raga.
SPLA-IO Deputy Spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel told Xinhua that the government troops attacked Raga town on Saturday morning, killing at least 10 civilians they accused of being sympathizers of the opposition.
Gabriel said four other civilians died in crossfire, adding that the death toll could be higher after government forces retook Raga town.
"The government forces launched air and ground attacks on Raga town after we captured it on Friday. Four civilians were killed in crossfire and ten others were killed by government troops who accused them of being our supporters. These are the ones we counted but the number would be more," Lam said.
The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) urged the country's warring parties to show restraint and commit themselves to respect international humanitarian laws and protect civilians in conflict.
South Sudan plunged into civil war in December 2013, leading to deaths of tens of thousands of people and displacement of 1.5 million others into neighboring countries.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 under international pressure from the UN and regional blocs has failed to end the violence as it was shattered in July 2016 after fresh fighting erupted between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar.
