Second British evacuation plane leaves South Sudan

Britain on Friday sent a second flight to evacuate its nationals from South Sudan, the Foreign Office said, amid spiraling violence in the fledgling nation. The Royal Air Force C-17 military transport plane evacuated 93 people from the capital Juba to Uganda. They were to be met by consular officials at Entebbe airport. On Thursday, the first C-17 flight evacuated 182 people, including 53 British nationals, to neighboring Uganda. "I have authorized a second flight carrying British nationals, which has now departed Juba," Foreign Secretary William Hague said. "I advise any British nationals who remain in South Sudan and wish to leave to contact the Foreign Office as soon as possible. "I am concerned about continuing violence in South Sudan. All leaders should exercise restraint. "The safety and security of civilians is paramount, and I have urged Vice-President (James) Wani Igga to ensure differences are resolved through political means." African diplomats made a push for peace in South Sudan on Friday as bitter fighting spread across the world's youngest nation, with U.S. President Barack Obama warning the oil-rich state was on the brink of civil war. Power struggles and years of rivalry exacerbated by ethnic divisions erupted into violence late on Sunday. Close to 500 people, most of them civilians, have been reported killed in Juba alone. Britain and the United States have both pulled some of their embassy staff out of the country and have urged their nationals to leave.