UN imposes sanctions on South Sudan generals
New York, 2 July - (ANA) - The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on six generals accused of fuelling conflict in South Sudan. The generals, three from each side of the conflict, will face global travel bans and asset freezes. On Monday, a UN report alleged that government troops had gang-raped and burned alive women and girls in the oil-rich Unity State, during an offensive against rebel forces. South Sudan, the world's newest state, has been hit by conflict since 2013. Among those targeted by the sanctions is the commander of President Salva Kiir special guard, Maj-Gen Marial Chanuong Yol Mangok. On the rebel side, they include Maj-Gen Simon Gatwech Dual, chief of general staff for the opposition forces and a key ally of rebel leader Riek Machar. The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the Security Council had demonstrated that those who committed atrocities and undermined peace would face consequences. "South Sudan's political leadership has squandered the international goodwill that accompanied its independence and pursued political and economic self-interest that has produced only violence, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people," she added. A UN report released on Monday described horrific violence in the latest fighting in Unity State. It quoted witnesses as saying that the army had gang-raped girls and burnt them alive in huts. (ANA)

FA/ANA/2 July 2015-------------