Tension, confusion as South Sudan marks independence anniversary

[WorldNews]

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The streets of South Sudan's capital were charged with tension on Saturday, the nation's fifth independence anniversary, after two days of sporadic fighting between government and former rebels that raised fears of high casualties. The fresh fighting began when President Salva Kiir and rebel leader turned vice president Riek Machar met at the presidential palace and initially involved each man's bodyguards. A statement issued by South Sudan's embassy in Washington said the exchange of fire between Kiir and Machar's bodyguards followed an earlier deadly altercation that killed five soldiers at a checkpoint on Thursday night.

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