The United States on Monday evacuated non-emergency staff members from its embassy in South Sudan following days of clashes in the capital that have killed at least 270, CNN reported.
The US State Department said on Sunday Juba had seen a "sudden and serious" escalation in violence as clashes between government and opposition forces deteriorated into "general fighting."
Earlier Monday the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir called for a ceasefire during a press conference, as Information Minister Michael Makuei said the country needs to "go back" to the peace agreement signed in August of last year.
The United Nations Security Council also held a meeting on the situation, expressing "shock and outrage" at the attacks on civilians and UN compounds, warning that they may amount to war crimes.
