DHAKA: UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon on Sunday demanded an immediate end to violence in South Sudan, warning that tens of thousands remained vulnerable.

‘I demand that all political, military and militia leaders stop hostilities and end the violence against the civilians,’ Ban told a news briefing in Manila as he wrapped up a two-day visit to the Philippines, reports The Straits Times.

He called on South Sudan president Salva Kiir and his rival, sacked vice president Riek Machar to ‘find a political way out of this crisis’ and order their followers to lay down arms.

‘I call on them to do everything in their power to ensure that their followers hear their message loud and clear,’ Ban said.

BDST: 1543 HRS, DEC 22, 2013
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor