<p>Three Indian peacekeepers were killed when attackers stormed a United Nations base in South Sudan where civilians had taken refuge, as violence and unrest continued unabated in the the world's newest country.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Unfortunately, just this very morning such militia groups have targeted and killed three soldiers from India in South Sudan," India's Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji told a UN meeting on peacekeeping last evening.<br /><br />Rebels from the second-largest ethnic group, the Nuer, stormed the base in Akobo in Jonglei state, targeting civilians of the majority Dinka ethnic community.<br /><br />About 1500-2000 rebels attacked the base where 43 Indian peacekeepers were present along with six UN police advisers and two civilians.<br /><br />The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said about 30 South Sudanese had sought shelter from the turmoil plaguing areas of Akobo County. The UNMISS, in a statement, strongly condemned the attack.<br /><br />The UN has said there were reports of more casualties but did given any further details.<br />The mission said it is doing everything possible to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the assault on the base and secure the safety of its personnel who remain there.<br /><br />South Sudan has been in turmoil since President Salva Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of mounting a coup.<br /><br />The unrest, which broke out on Sunday, has killed some 500 people so far. The conflict first erupted in the capital Juba but has since spread.<br /><br />Kiir, who is a Dinka, has blamed the violence on a group of soldiers who support Machar, a Nuer.<br /><br />The president accused them of trying to take power by force on Sunday night in a coup attempt by Machar, a claim the former vice president denies.<br /><br />UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned by reports of growing violence in many parts of South Sudan, human rights abuses and killings fuelled by ethnic tensions".<br /><br />However, the government insists the clashes are over power and politics, noting that both sides involved in the clashes include leaders from different tribes.<br /><br />"We condemn in strongest possible terms attempts to depict the coup as ethnic strife," a government statement said.</p>
<p>Three Indian peacekeepers were killed when attackers stormed a United Nations base in South Sudan where civilians had taken refuge, as violence and unrest continued unabated in the the world's newest country.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Unfortunately, just this very morning such militia groups have targeted and killed three soldiers from India in South Sudan," India's Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji told a UN meeting on peacekeeping last evening.<br /><br />Rebels from the second-largest ethnic group, the Nuer, stormed the base in Akobo in Jonglei state, targeting civilians of the majority Dinka ethnic community.<br /><br />About 1500-2000 rebels attacked the base where 43 Indian peacekeepers were present along with six UN police advisers and two civilians.<br /><br />The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said about 30 South Sudanese had sought shelter from the turmoil plaguing areas of Akobo County. The UNMISS, in a statement, strongly condemned the attack.<br /><br />The UN has said there were reports of more casualties but did given any further details.<br />The mission said it is doing everything possible to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the assault on the base and secure the safety of its personnel who remain there.<br /><br />South Sudan has been in turmoil since President Salva Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of mounting a coup.<br /><br />The unrest, which broke out on Sunday, has killed some 500 people so far. The conflict first erupted in the capital Juba but has since spread.<br /><br />Kiir, who is a Dinka, has blamed the violence on a group of soldiers who support Machar, a Nuer.<br /><br />The president accused them of trying to take power by force on Sunday night in a coup attempt by Machar, a claim the former vice president denies.<br /><br />UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned by reports of growing violence in many parts of South Sudan, human rights abuses and killings fuelled by ethnic tensions".<br /><br />However, the government insists the clashes are over power and politics, noting that both sides involved in the clashes include leaders from different tribes.<br /><br />"We condemn in strongest possible terms attempts to depict the coup as ethnic strife," a government statement said.</p>