-AFP

Juba, South Sudan: South Sudan's army said Wednesday rebels had wrested control of the key oil town of Bentiu, one of the most bitterly contested regions in the four-month-long conflict.

"We are moving forward to retake the town from the forces of Riek Machar, who entered the town on Tuesday after our forces withdrew," army spokesman Philip Aguer told AFP, accusing the rebels of "committing atrocities including the killing of civilians."