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NEW YORK - 11 Jul 2016

UN chief says all officials complicit in violence will be held accountable

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that it won't only be the leaders of South Sudan who will be held accountable for recent violence in Juba "but all those in the chain of command, including chiefs of staff and other officials complicit in the violence,"

In a statement today in front of reporters, Ki-moon said that there "must and will be accountability for the atrocities that have been committed in South Sudan since 2013".

Ban Ki-moon also suggested three courses of action to the United Nations Security Council. First, he said there should be an immediate arms embargo placed on the country. Second, he said that there should be additional targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking the implementation of the peace agreement. And third, he said asked to fortify the UNMISS mission.

"My message to President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar is clear: do everything in your power to de-escalate the hostilities immediately. Order your respective forces to withdraw to their bases" Ki-moon said "Let me underscore, again, to all those leading and perpetrating these hostilities that acts of violence perpetrated against civilians and United Nations and humanitarian personnel, assets and premises may constitute a war crime"