The United Nations moved on the diplomatic and military fronts Monday to staunch the conflict in South Sudan, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging the government to free political prisoners to facilitate talks with rebels and the Security Council holding a crisis meeting on latest efforts to reinforce U.N. peacekeepers in the world's newest country. "[It] is a very, very dire situation," Security Council President Gerard Araud of France told reporters after the meeting, in which Ban's special representative, Hilde Johnson, briefed the 15-member body by video link from Juba, South Sudan's capital, on the latest developments in the fighting, the mediation efforts of neighbors, and the steps by humanitarian agencies to bring aid to those in need. Ban spoke by telephone with South Sudan President Salva Kiir early Monday, welcoming his declared commitment to cease hostilities and readiness to engage opposition leaders in dialogue and encouraging him to consider the early release of political prisoners. Ban reiterated full U.N. support for mediation efforts by the East African regional bloc known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and called for full cooperation by all parties in finding a peaceful solution. He also stressed the need to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on civilians.
