South Sudan President Kiir urges end to tribal atrocities

South Sudan President Salva Kiir called for an end to wanton killings and tribal-based atrocities on Wednesday, as government troops clashed with rebels loyal to his former deputy in an oil-producing region of the country.

Western powers fear the violence could spiral out of control and lead to a civil war split along ethnic lines in the world's newest state, and the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday agreed to almost double the number of peacekeepers there.