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Global

U.S. sanctions both sides of S. Sudan conflict


    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday sanctioned two people on opposing sides of the ethnic violence in South Sudan, showing the growing frustration in Washington with leaders in a country it helped create.

    Thousands of people have been killed and more than 1 million have fled their homes since fighting erupted in the world's newest nation in December between troops backing President Salva Kiir and soldiers loyal to his sacked deputy, Riek Machar.

    The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Peter Gadet, an army commander loyal to the rebel leader Machar, and Major-General Marial Chanuong, a government military commander. The designation freezes any of their assets in the United States and blocks U.S. people or companies from dealing with them.

    (Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Chris Reese)