South Sudan 'massacre killed 200'

JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) - Attacks by a renegade militia in south Sudans Jonglei oil state left at least 211 people dead, a southern minister said on Tuesday, doubling earlier estimates of the death count. Two hundred and one people were killed and 109 were wounded. Most were civilians including women, children and priests ... and people like that, the souths minister of humanitarian affairs, James Kok, told Reuters. Kok, who had just returned from the scene of the fighting in Jongleis Fangak county, said an additional 10 people later died in hospital. His figures did not include casualties among the attacking militias. South Sudans army said forces loyal to George Athor, a former senior army officer who launched a revolt after losing in last years elections, carried out a series of attacks in Jonglei on Wednesday and Thursday last week. It earlier said 105 people died, including more than 30 of George Athors men. Athor was not immediately available for comment. The violence has reignited concerns for the security of the region where voters last month overwhelmingly voted to declare independence from the north in a referendum. French oil group Total leads a consortium controlling a largely unexplored oil concession in Jonglei.

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