Heavy fighting in South Sudan after UN sanctions warnings

South Sudan's civil war entered its ninth month Friday with rebels and government troops engaged in heavy battles, both sides said, days after UN warnings of sanctions over the conflict.
      
Fighting was reported around the town of Bentiu, capital of the northern oil state of Unity, as well as in the Ayod region of Jonglei state, with each two side accusing the other of launching attacks.
      
Rebel spokesman Lul Ruai Koang claimed it was the start of a "long-awaited government offensive."       
Army spokesman Joseph Marier Samuel said troops had acted in "self-defence", accusing the rebels of launching a dawn attack at Ayod. He claimed the rebels were repulsed with heavy casualties.
      
In Bentiu, fighting was reported to have continued for several hours, including around the key airport zone outside the town, close to the UN base.
      
"It is a continuous violation of the ceasefire agreement," Samuel said.
      
Aid workers reported heavy shooting around Bentiu, which has changed hands between rebels and government troops several times since fighting first broke out in December.
      
"We heard heavy shelling erupting early this morning," said Timothy Ngyuai from the aid agency CARE, adding that they had taken initially been forced to take shelter in bunkers.
      
The British ambassador in Juba, Ian Hughes, said the fighting was "disappointing", coming just three days after UN Security Council envoys visiting the troubled nation warned both the government and rebel leaders of "consequences".
      
"The situation there is desperate enough already," Hughes said. "Leaders need to control their fighters."               ...