South Sudan army repulse rebel attack on oil town

South Sudan's army has repulsed rebel attacks on the key northern oil hub town of Bentiu, saying many have been killed or wounded in fierce fighting.

Defence Minister Kuol Manyang says the town remains under the command of the army.

After skirmishes outside the town earlier this week, rebels yesterday attacked the centre, with aid workers nearby reporting heavy machine gunfire and explosions.

The fighting marks an end to a brief lull in hostilities in the country's 10-month-old civil war after the end of the rainy season which made many roads impassable.

NEWS24