US urges citizens to leave South Sudan amid unrest

December 17, 2013 at 5:24p.m.

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The United States ordered its citizens to leave South Sudan immediately today due to fighting in the capital after what its president called a coup attempt by soldiers loyal to his former deputy. Facing an escalating threat of violence, about 13,000 people sought refuge at U.N. facilities in Juba, the capital, where sporadic but heavy gunfire has been heard since Sunday as factions of the armed forces repeatedly clashed across the city.