Renewed heavy fighting breaks out in South Sudan capital

Heavy fighting has continued in South Sudan between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels backing former vice president, Riek Machar, for the fifth day in a row.

According to media reports, fierce fighting and heavy weapons gunfire shook South Sudan's capital Juba on Monday with witnesses reporting major explosions all over the volatile city.

Tanks, helicopter gunships, heavy artillery and mortars are being used in the latest bout of violence.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said gunfire erupted around one of its headquarters in the Jebel area of Juba and also around a base near the airport.

The UN base is home to some 30,000 residents, who are displaced by fighting in the country.

At least two UN peacekeepers from China were killed at the base Sunday night.

A video footage broadcast on Chinese state TV showed smoke rising after the attack and Chinese peacekeepers tending to their wounded.

An eyewitness in the UN base told the Associated Press that he saw a government tank fire on a Chinese armored personnel carrier.

Witnesses reported "very, very heavy fighting," with residents barricading themselves inside houses and aid workers holed up in bunkers across the war-ravaged capital.

SS