Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan called for an immediate end to violence in South Sudan, respecting human rights and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The Kingdom's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mahmoud Hmoud said during the Un Security Council’s meeting on South Sudan last night, that the government of South Sudan and the opposition must take responsibility for bringing perpetrators to justice, adding that the International Criminal Court should also get involved.

"In spite of the commitments made by both parties, the situation on the ground had deteriorated. It was essential to identify and locate the most vulnerable areas of human rights violations and to protect civilians" Hmoud said.

The Council was briefed on the deteriorating situation in southern Sudan from Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who said her recent visit to South Sudan had revealed not only extensive violence, but also a real fear of disaster among the population, including the likelihood of a massive famine.

Adama Dieng, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, recalled the recent brutal attacks on Bentiu, in Unity State, and on Bor, in Jonglei State, emphasizing that unless such attacks were not be stopped immediately, South Sudan could plunge into serious violence and spiral out of control.

" Yet, in consultations with senior Government officials in Juba and with rebel leader and former Vice-President Riek Machar, both sides had either denied attacks against civilians or justified by claiming they had been carried out in self-defence against a vengeful group" he added.

South Sudan is the newest country in the world, which seceded from Sudan in July 2011. The recent violence began between the Dinka and Nuer tribes over political disputes between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar.

*Petra