Fighting reported in South Sudan despite cease-fire

In a sign a new peace deal may not hold, South Sudan's government and rebels accused each other of attacks Saturday that come after the cease-fire was supposed to take hold, AP reported. If the attacks continue, government troops will defend themselves, said Information Minister Michel Makeur Lueth. The peace deal was signed Thursday night but did not go into effect for 24 hours, said Lueth. Rebel spokesman Lul Ruai Koang countered "It is government forces who are breaking the cease-fire, not us. ... they attacked our positions and immediately accused us of breaching the cease-fire. The minister would not say where the fighting was taking place on Saturday. Koang said they were attacked in Unity and Jonglei states "and we fought back in self-defense." Government leaders had expressed fear that fighters in Jonglei known as the White Army would not abide by the deal.