South Sudan government backs protest against foreign troops

Hundreds of South Sudanese protest in Juba, South Sudan against Foreign military intervention Wednesday July 20, 2016. Hundreds of people from civil society and political parties protested in Juba. This week African leaders have backed plans to deploy regional troops to South Sudan after recent fighting between rival forces left hundreds of people dead . (AP Photo/Samir Bol) (The Associated Press)

JUBA, South Sudan – South Sudan's government has organized a protest in the capital against the deployment of foreign troops to secure Juba after recent clashes between opposing army factions that left hundreds dead.

The African Union this week called for a "regional protection force" to bolster a 12,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and separate warring parties.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has supported reinforcing the mission.

The spokesman for South Sudan's former rebel leader Riek Machar, now first vice president, says Machar has also called for a "third force" to secure Juba after President Salva Kiir's forces bombed his house during the fighting that raised fears of a return to civil war.

Hundreds marched Wednesday denouncing foreign troops.

Protest organizer Ajongo Ajongo said it would be regettable to impose foreign troops.