Sudão do Sul: Mais de 60 soldados mortos

More than 60 soldiers have been killed in two days of clashes in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, doctors at a military hospital have said. Fresh violence broke out on Tuesday, a day after the government said it had quashed an attempted coup. Thousands of people have sought shelter at two UN compounds in the capital. On Monday, President Salva Kiir blamed soldiers loyal to his former deputy Riek Machar - who was dismissed in July - for the violence. He said the clashes began when uniformed personnel opened fire at a meeting of the ruling party, former rebel force the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), on Sunday night. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The continued clashes are undercutting President Salva Kiir's claim on Monday that the government was in "full control" of the situation. There are two possible - and not necessarily mutually exclusive - explanations for what is happening. The first, the president's version, is that the army is fighting off an attack by soldiers allied to the former Vice-President, Riek Machar. The second is that the president has taken advantage of the military flare-up to crack down on many of those who have criticised him. A showdown between Kiir and Machar is not unexpected. South Sudan is now at a critical point. Curfew in place The violence broke out on Sunday and continued into Monday, until the government said it was back in full control. But fresh gunfire erupted on Tuesday near the presidential palace and many other areas of Juba. Ajak Bullen, a doctor at a military hospital, said at least 66 soldiers had died in the clashes. "So far, we have lost seven soldiers who died while they were waiting for medical attention and a further 59 who were killed outside," he told local media. "They are there at the mortuary and we are arranging for a mass burial," he told local radio. Another hospital, Juba Teaching Hospital, had earlier reported 26 deaths - and it is unclear whether there is any overlap between the figures. So far the government has only confirmed 26 deaths. It is also unclear whether those who died were fighting for or against the president. A night-time curfew is in place, and at least four former ministers have been arrested since Sunday's alleged coup. The government said it was looking for Mr Machar who had gone into hiding.