Ban Ki-moon 'deeply concerned' at situation in South Sudan

Fugitive former South Sudanese vice-president Riek Machar has denied government allegations that he tried to stage a coup at the weekend.

In a BBC interview, he denied any link with fighting that began on Sunday and accused President Salva Kiir of "inciting tribal and ethnic violence". The UN says hundreds have died and has warned of a descent into civil war.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he was "deeply concerned" about the situation in the country.

Mr Ban stated that it was "a political crisis that needs to be dealt with through political dialogue" and that there was a risk of the violence spreading further.