The US Ambassador to South Sudan has called on the parties to the peace agreement to adhere to the ceasefire they declared last month.

Violence broke out in Juba between the guards of President Salva Kiir and the guards of the former First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar.

Both sides declared a ceasefire after five days of fighting which left more than 300 people dead in the national capital.

The US Ambassador to South Sudan, Molly Phee, urged the parties to respect the ceasefire they declared on the 11 July.

“We reviewed the serious situation in the country and reaffirmed to him America’s support for peace and stability in South Sudan and for the people of South Sudan,” Amb Phee told SSBC after meeting First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, in Juba on Tuesday.

“First we talked about the need to adhere to the ceasefire, both sides: both the government and the Opposition to adhere to the ceasefire as at the peace agreement as well as the ceasefire of July 11.”

Last week the U.S Government proposed that the United Nations Security Council approve 4,000-strong force to secure peace in South Sudan’s capital Juba.