Government troops and the SPLM in Opposition forces clashed this morning in Nasir.

The head of information and media at the SPLA General headquarters in Juba, Malaak Ayuen, says opposition forces attacked government bases, an allegation the opposition has denied.

Gen Malaak told Eye Radio that the SPLM in Opposition first started shelling the area on Monday.

This morning, he said the opposition forces crossed the Nile River to attack government bases.

“They walked to the market area and….opened fire on our force,” said Mr Ayuen, “and then the fighting took place and they were chased from that area.”

For his part, the military spokesman of the SPLM in Opposition, Dickson Gatluak, said the SPLA were the first to move out of their areas to attack:

“They are the ones in control of Nasir – they started moving out yesterday evening and then this morning they attacked our defensive position in a place called Pananyang.”

Both sides claim they repulsed the other. There are no details on the casualty figures.