Uganda fights in South Sudan as rebellion rages

Uganda has confirmed its troops are fighting alongside South Sudan's government against rebels, as fresh details emerged today of brutal ethnic killings in the conflict ravaging the world's youngest nation.
Ceasefire talks -- to end a conflict of over a month in which thousands have been killed -- are deadlocked amid squabbling leaders and rebel demands for the release of political prisoners.
Government delegation head Nhial Deng Nhial arrived back in Juba today calling the negotiations in neighbouring Ethiopia "tough" and that he had come to consult back in the capital.
The talks are mediated by the East African regional bloc IGAD, of which Uganda is a key member, raising concerns for the body as a neutral negotiator for the rebels.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said his troops were supporting the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) -- the first official confirmation foreign forces are taking part in combat.
"The SPLA and elements of our army had a big battle with these rebel troops... We inflicted a big defeat on them," Museveni said, speaking in at a summit meeting in Angola late yesterday.

"Unfortunately, many lives were lost on the side of the rebels. We also took casualties and also had some dead."
Up to 10,000 people are believed to have been killed so far in the fighting pitting forces loyal to President Salva Kiir against a loose coalition of army defectors and ethnic militia nominally headed by Riek Machar, a former vice president and seasoned guerrilla fighter.

Ugandan troops deployed in South Sudan five days after fighting began on December 15 to support Kiir, but had so far been vague over the nature of its operations.