3 Indian UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan attack

Three Indian peacekeepers have been reportedly killed in an attack on a United Nations compound in South Sudan's Jonglei state on Thursday.

The attack had been carried out by rebels from the second-largest ethnic group, the Nuer, targeting civilians of the majority Dinka ethnic community.

According to the BBC, South Sudan has been in turmoil since President Salva Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of mounting a coup and the unrest that began on Sunday, has killed 500 people so far.

The report said that there were 43 Indian peacekeepers at the UN compound in the town of Akobo where the attack took place, after which, security has been beefed up.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he was deeply concerned by reports of growing violence in many parts of South Sudan, human rights abuses and killings fuelled by ethnic tensions.

However, the government has insisted that the clashes are over power and politics, noting that both sides involved in the clashes include leaders from different tribes, the report added.