Fighting rages in South Sudan as UN moves to boost force

BOR, South Sudan: South Sudan’s army battled rebel forces on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) in the capital of a key oil-producing state and prepared to storm another, as the United Nations (UN) moved to double its peacekeeping force to stave off civil war.

Thousands are believed to have been killed in more than a week of violence pitting troops loyal to President Salva Kiir against those backing his rival Riek Machar, a former vice president who was sacked in July.