UN to vote on South Sudan sanctions

The UN Security Council will vote on Friday on a draft resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and renew sanctions against it for another year.

The US says the resolution is essential to end the continuing violence in a five-year civil war. But China and Russia say the extension of punitive measures against South Sudan at this time could jeopardise moves towards peace between the warring sides.

However, diplomats say the US resolution is likely to be adopted.

At the end of June, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar signed a ceasefire which both sides accuse the other of violating.