Fighting in South Sudan's Upper Nile drags into third day

South Sudan: Opposing groups of government soldiers in South Sudan's Upper Nile state fought for a third day on Thursday, a ruling party official said, adding that the defense minister will travel to the region in a bid to defuse the situation.

Fighting has broken out in the state capital, Malakal, between soldiers protecting state governor Simon Kun Puoch, and soldiers loyal to Johnson Olony, a major general in the South Sudan Army (SPLA), acting state information minister Galuak Lith Hoth Dieu said.