South Sudan rebels and Government in renewed fighting the country’s oil-rich north

ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan's rebels confirmed Tuesday they were engaged in renewed heavy clashes with government forces in the country's oil-rich north, but accused their rivals of initiating the fighting.

The statement came the day after the government claimed it had killed scores of rebels after they attacked around the town of Renk in Upper Nile State, in what appeared to be some of the worst violence since peace talks broke down earlier this month.