Earlyface

Two military aircrafts were hit by rebels
Rebels in South Sudan have attacked two
United States evacuation airplanes injuring
at least three military personnel.
The aircraft were shot at in the town of Bor,
the capital of Jognlei state, occupied by
forces loyal to former Vice-President Riek
Machar. Bor has been the scene of heavy
fighting this week.
One U.S. service member was in critical
condition, reports said. Details of the attack
however remain sketchy.
The plane later landed in Uganda.
South Sudan has been in turmoil since
Sunday after President Salva Kiir accused Mr.
Machar of attempting a coup.
More than 500 people have been killed in
days of fighting between troops loyal to the
two men, sparking fears the world’s newest
nation may drift back to its violent past.
The fighting has assumed an ethnic
dimension, mainly between Mr. Kiir’s
majority Dinka people and his former
deputy’s Nuer ethnic group, the second
largest tribe.
Mr. Machar has denied leading a coup, but
has made it clear he wants Mr. Kiir out of
office.
Several countries, including the U.S, have
evacuated their nationals in the past days.
Two Indian peacekeepers were killed on
Thursday by thousands of armed Nuer
youth who overran a United Nations base to
attack Dinka people who sought refuge
there.
United States President Barack Obama
warned on Friday that the country stands on
the precipice and may slide back to civil war.
Mr. Kiir has expressed his willingness to
dialogue with rivals to prevent a return to
war. His former deputy has not accepted the
offer.