ADDIS ABABA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for an immediate end to hostilities in South Sudan.

In a statement issued Saturday evening, the chief of the pan-African bloc expressed "deep concern" over the escalating tensions in Nasir County in South Sudan's Upper Nile State. The clashes included a lethal attack on a UN helicopter and violence in other areas, all "posing a threat to the peace process."

While urging authorities to hold those responsible fully accountable, the chairperson called for the utmost restraint by all parties, an immediate end to the hostilities, adherence to the ceasefire arrangements and engagement in national dialogue.

He said the AU is currently consulting with the South Sudanese authorities, the East African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts to de-escalate the crisis.

The chairperson reiterated the AU's longstanding call for South Sudanese parties to fully implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

On Friday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir appealed for calm and reiterated his commitment to peace, shortly after 27 people were killed in a violent attack on government forces and a UN helicopter in Nasir County.

Kiir said the deaths, including an army general and the commander in Nasir, occurred Friday morning when the UN mission attempted to evacuate South Sudanese soldiers trapped in Nasir following clashes with the White Army, a local militia allied with the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition. Enditem

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