UK to temporarily withdraw some embassy staff from South Sudan following violence in country

LONDON – Britain's Foreign Office says it is withdrawing some embassy staff from South Sudan because of violence in the oil-rich East African country.

The U.N. estimates that fighting in South Sudan has killed up to 500 people, violence that the president of the world's newest country has blamed on a coup attempt by soldiers loyal to his former deputy, who belongs to a different ethnic group.

The Foreign Office said Wednesday that its embassy in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, remains open, but that it has decided to temporarily withdraw some embassy staff and their dependents.

It continues to advise against all travel to Juba.