South Sudan monitor says cease-fire violated almost daily

JUBA, South Sudan – The monitor of South Sudan’s peace deal is reporting “near-daily violations” of the cease-fire and says fighting could “trigger an uncontrolled escalation of violence.”

Festus Mogae said Wednesday that both sides have perpetrated “egregious violations of human rights” including gang rape and killing of civilians.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous this week told the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors that South Sudan’s government is delaying “as much as possible” the deployment of an additional 4,000 peacekeepers.

Ladsous also called for an arms embargo, saying “the economy is bankrupt, yet money is spent on arms” and calling it unacceptable.

But Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Petr Iliichev, told reporters this week that his country does not support an arms embargo. Russia is a permanent council member and holds veto power.