South Sudan's first vice president Riek Machar could not go to work Wednesday due to tension between presidential guards and security which forced him to stay at home, a high level SPLM-In Opposition said.

"Riek Machar is working under self-imposed house arrest because his personal assistants and guards are being threatened at workplace by presidential guards and members of national security, compelling the first vice president to remain in his office when the rest of us resumed on Wednesday," a cabinet minister from SPLM-IO said.

The official claimed that presidential guards and security demanded Machar not be accompanied to the office by heavily armed guards.

Presidential officials, however, downplayed the tension and attributed his not showing up to work to preparations required to complete furnishing his office.

Machar continued his work as normal on Thursday attending a meeting of cabinet ministers.