South Sudan: Salva Kiir removes Riek Machar as deputy leader

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has removed Riek Machar as first Vice President, two weeks after the rival  leaders' forces clashed in the capital.  

Mr Machar has not been seen since the clashes which left about three hundred people dead and threatened to revive a civil war that has killed tens of thousands. 

Mr Machar has been replaced by Taban Deng Gai, a former peace negotiator. 

The replacement has been criticised by Mr Machar's supporters but others in his party are said to have supported it. 


SOURCE: BBC news