JUBA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Friday denied the release of the ex-army chief who was under house arrest amid military stand-off.
Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny dismissed reports that the former Sudan's People's Liberation Army (SPLA) General Staff Paul Malong, who has been under house arrest since May, was released on medical grounds.
"I don't know where the source of the release of General Malong originated from. We from the presidency are yet to be informed officially," Ateny told Xinhua by telephone.
He said Malong is currently under house confinement, adding that talks are underway to diffuse the tension related to the confinement of the former army chief in wake of his refusal to surrender his bodyguards.
"Journalists from different media outlets have been asking me about the subject since morning but our stand is clear that the information is not verified," Ateny said.
The government troops started surrounding Malong's house in Juba last week and unsuccessfully attempted to disarm his bodyguards. There have been fears Malong could launch a rebellion against President Salva Kiir's government.
Reports said Malongo was released on Thursday evening after a team of elders told him that President Kiir has accepted to release him.
However, Kiir's spokesman said the standoff is a security concern, noting that Malong can only be released after top security organs advise the president to do so.
SPLA spokesman Lul Ruai Koang separately confirmed to Xinhua by phone that the military command is yet to get notice of the release of the former army boss.
"We in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) are to serve notice releasing General Malong. I have been getting several calls especially from the members of the press about the release but nothing of such is made," Koang said.
The army spokesman further said they will still maintain limited presence of security forces around Malong's residence in order to avoid what he termed as "unforeseen eventualities."
Malong who was sacked in May is under house arrest after he disobeyed President Kiir's order to withdraw about 30 of his bodyguards and retain three.
The General's home, which neighbors the State House, is guarded and patrolled by hundreds of soldiers mounting tanks on the pretext he may escape from his detention to fight the government.
