Clashes erupted on Wednesday between government troops and opposition fighters in Manyo County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, a spokesman for the rebel group said.

Col. William Gatjiath Deng, military spokesman of the SPLA-IO, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that they repulsed an attack by Kiir’s forces on their positions at Kola area in Manyo County.

He further said fighting between the two forces continued for about two hours in the area.Gatjiath admitted that one soldier was killed and five others wounded from their side.

“The fighting started at 9:00 am and continued until 11:00 am, and people died during the clashes, one person was killed and five others were wounded from our side,” said Gatjiath.

He claimed that they killed about 35 government soldiers and captured one tank during the clashes between the two sides at Kola area.

For his part, Brig. Lul Ruai Koang, military spokesman of the SPLA army, denied knowledge of reported clashes with Riek Machar’s forces in Upper Nile, saying they have not yet received any report from field commanders.