At least 7 dead, 40 injured in South Sudan UN base shelter

An outbreak of fighting at a UN peacekeeping base sheltering civilians in South Sudan has killed at least seven people and injured 40, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday.

The seven displaced persons were living in the base in the northeast town of Malakal where violence between the ethnic Dinka and Shilluk communities broke out overnight and continued into the day, he said.

Ban condemned the fighting and expressed concerns about the rise of ethnic violence in the more than two-year conflict.

He warned "all parties against stoking ethnic disputes and calls on them to refrain from any actions or statements that could further escalate the situation," according to a statement from his spokesman.

The UN chief reminded all sides that attacks on UN peacekeeping bases can constitute a war crime and urged them to implement a peace deal signed in August.

Fighting has continued in South Sudan despite the peace accord. Thousands have died and more than 2.3 million have been driven from their homes.

Nearly 200,000 civilians have sought shelter in the UN mission's eight compounds in South Sudan since the conflict began.