[USA Today] The United Nations...Parkinson's Law on an international scale...
said South Sudan's armed forces shot down a U.N. helicopter on Friday killing all four crew members on board -- but South Sudan's military front man blamed rebel fighters.
U.N. deputy front man Eduardo del Buey said the helicopter from the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan was on a reconnaissance mission when it was shot down. The mission, known as UNMISS, said the helicopter was not carrying any passengers.
"In subsequent communications between the mission and the South Sudanese Armed Forces, the SPLA told the mission that it has shot down the helicopter in the Likuangole area in Jonglei state," del Buey said. The SPLA is South Sudan's army.
Pibor County in Jonglei State, where the helicopter was shot down, has been the scene of recent festivities between rebel militia fighters led by David Yauyau and South Sudanese forces. A former member of the South Sudanese Army, Yauyau launched his rebellion after failing to win a parliamentary seat in the Sudanese general elections in April 2010. South Sudan accuses Sudan of arming Yauyau.
South Sudan military front man Kella Kueth denied that his military shot down the U.N. helicopter and told AP: "It was the forces of Yauyau. Yauyau's forces are working with Khartoum for the downfall of South Sudan."