UN chief: South Sudan sliding into civil warfare

NEW YORK, March 28 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday warned that South Sudan is facing "a full-fledged storm" amid aggravating crises that may lead to civil warfare.
The UN chief said in remarks to reporters at the UN headquarters that the dangerous and tragic situation has been caused by escalating clashes and air bombardment of civilians.
He urged South Sudan leaders to drop the guns and place people's interest above any other consideration.
Political turbulence has recently peaked with the detention of the First Vice President Riek Machar, thus threatening to undermine the peace treaty, Guterres said.
The nation is in a nightmare; three people out of four are in need for help and half of the population are suffering from lack of food and spread of cholera, he said, adding that more than one million people have fled to the Sudanese borders since start of the internal fighting.
He also warned of depleting aid and called on the warring parties to stop the bloody conflict, release the prisoners and reinstate the national unity government. (end) ast.rk