South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir says his forces have recaptured the key town of Bor, days after it was seized by rebels in a week-long conflict.
Forces loyal to Mr Kiir’s ex-deputy Riek Machar were « on the run », the information minister said. The rebels have not commented on the claim.
There has been a week of fighting amid a struggle between Mr Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Mr Machar, of the Nuer.
The UN earlier said that it had reports of at least three mass graves.
It said there was « palpable fear » among civilians that they would be killed on the basis of their ethnicity.
President Kiir told journalists in the capital, Juba: « Forces loyal to the government have taken Bor and are now clearing whatever forces that are remaining there. »
Information Minister Michael Makwei told Agence France Presse: « The army captured Bor around sunset and the rebel forces are now on the run… We are back in control. »
Bor had been one of the major successes for the rebels. They are believed to still be in control of Bentiu, the capital of the oil-producing Unity State.
Bor is 200km (125 miles) north of Juba.
Some 17,000 civilians had sought refuge in a UN camp in Bor after the rebels took over.
UN officials say at least 80,000 people have been displaced by the South Sudan crisis – about half of them seeking shelter at a number of UN bases.
