FIGHTING broke out in South Sudan today fewer than 48 hours after President Salva Kiir and rebel ex-vice-president Riek Machar agreed a ceasefire.

Each side blamed the other for breaking the agreement, which had been backed by US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon.

South Sudan Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juk said that rebels had attacked government positions near Bentiu this morning.