South Sudan president urges rebels to resume talks in independence day speech

South Sudan's president on Wednesday called on rebels to resume peace talks as the country marked its third birthday with celebrations overshadowed by fighting that has killed thousands and brought it to the verge of famine.

Clashes erupted in Juba in December pitting the government forces of President Salva Kiir against supporters of his former deputy and long-time rival Riek Machar. The conflict has reopened deep ethnic tensions in the world's youngest country which only won independence from Sudan in 2011.