South Sudan fighters 'recruited 9,000 child soldiers'

(ANSA) - Rome, April 30 - The warring sides in South Sudan's brutal civil war have recruited 9,000 child soldiers, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said Wednesday. Both the army and rebels recruited the children, she said. Pillay said South Sudan faced the threat of a famine, but there was an "apparent lack of concern" on the part of its leaders. She was speaking at the end of a visit to South Sudan, where the conflict has displaced about a million people.
    Fighting broke out in December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy, Riek Machar. Kiir accused Mr Machar of plotting a coup.