South Sudanese authorities expelled today a correspondent of the international television news channel Al Jazeera over a report on military developments in the country.

Mohammed Adow, a correspondent of Al Jazeera English, was told to leave the country, said presidential spokesman Ateny Wek.

A witness said that Adow left the country this morning. It is not clear whether he was under security escort at the time of his departure.

Government officials were displeased by a live report made by the correspondent in which he referred to the alleged advance of Machar forces on the capital Juba.

He was speaking after a press conference by SPLA Spokesman Col. Philip Aguer and Presidential Spokesman Ateny Wek.

During his live report he is said to have stated that rebel forces had reached to a place called Makwach, which he said was near Juba in Central Equatoria State, though in fact it is in Jonglei.

Senior officials reportedly consider the video report to have been inaccurate. The army spokesman yesterday encouraged media to disregard rumors of an imminent attack on Juba, which he considered fear mongering.

Ateny Wek has specified that Al Jazeera itself is not expelled from South Sudan, only the individual reporter. The TV channel still has a film crew present in Juba.