U.N. Reports Hundreds Killed In Ethnic Violence In South Sudan

Enlarge this image toggle caption Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters/Landov Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters/Landov

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan says that "targeted killings of civilians" based on ethnicity were carried out in the war-torn country after rebels last week seized the city of Bentiu.

In a statement on Monday, UNMISS said its human rights investigators had confirmed the killings occurred April 15 and 16 after rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army took control of the oil hub.

UNMISS reports that on April 15, several Nuer men, women and children were killed for refusing to cheer on SPLA rebels as they entered the town. The killings continued the next day, and ethnic Darfuris were also among those targeted, it said. At a single mosque, more than 200 civilians were killed and some 400 wounded, according to the statement. In addition, it said, rebels rounded up individuals, based on their ethnicity, who were sheltering in a Catholic Church.

"These atrocities must be fully investigated and the perpetrators and their commanders shall be held accountable," UNMISS chief Raisedon Zenenga said.

The statement also said that some individuals "associated with the opposition" had broadcast radio messages calling on "men from one community to commit vengeful sexual violence against women from another community."

The Associated Press reports: