Juba: US Secretary of State John Kerry landed in South Sudan on Friday to demand a ceasefire in a brutal four-month-old civil war that has sparked dire warnings of genocide and famine.
"Secretary Kerry will reiterate the need for all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement (and) to immediately cease attacks on civilians," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
He will also urge warring factions to "fully cooperate with the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to protect civilians and to provide life-saving assistance to the people of South Sudan," Psaki added in a statement.
Kerry, who is expected to hold talks with Kiir, is also scheduled to meet leaders of the UN peacekeeping force, whose troops have come under attack from warring parties, and are struggling to stem a wave of atrocities.
His visit to Juba, capital of the young nation, comes a day after Kerry warned of the risk of genocide and famine in South Sudan, and brandished the threat of sanctions against leaders on both sides of the war.
"Were they to continue in the way they've been going (they) could really present a very serious challenge to the international community with respect to the questions of genocide," he added.
Thousands of people have already been killed -- and possibly tens of thousands -- with at least 1.2 million people forced to flee their homes in the world's newest country.
"Secretary Kerry will reiterate the need for all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement (and) to immediately cease attacks on civilians," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
He will also urge warring factions to "fully cooperate with the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to protect civilians and to provide life-saving assistance to the people of South Sudan," Psaki added in a statement.
Kerry, who is expected to hold talks with Kiir, is also scheduled to meet leaders of the UN peacekeeping force, whose troops have come under attack from warring parties, and are struggling to stem a wave of atrocities.
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His visit to Juba, capital of the young nation, comes a day after Kerry warned of the risk of genocide and famine in South Sudan, and brandished the threat of sanctions against leaders on both sides of the war.
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"Were they to continue in the way they've been going (they) could really present a very serious challenge to the international community with respect to the questions of genocide," he added.
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Thousands of people have already been killed -- and possibly tens of thousands -- with at least 1.2 million people forced to flee their homes in the world's newest country.
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