Britain sends plane to evacuate nationals from South Sudan

A plane was sent to airlift Britons in South Sudan who wish to stay away from the turmoil, said a statement by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday. "A UK aircraft is en route to Juba to evacuate British nationals who wish to leave from Juba airport on Thursday 19 December," said a spokesperson with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). FCO called on those who wish to leave to make contact through email or telephone. "Any British nationals wishing to leave should be reassured that all personal information will be protected in line with the Data Protection Act 1998," said the spokesperson. By mid-day, about 150 Britons had made contact, including some non-embassy staff, according sources from FCO. Some embassy staff and their relatives had been withdrawn, while FCO advised against all travel to within 40km of South Sudan's northern border with Sudan, Jonglei State and Juba. The past several days saw clashes between soldiers of President Salva Kiir and supporters of Riek Machar, former deputy chairman who was fired in July. Estimate by the United Nations put the death toll to about 500. Kiir has called a curfew during nights.