South Sudan facing US sanctions during Kerry trip

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry will renew his threat of sanctions against militants in a visit next week to South Sudan, where ethnic killings are ripping apart the 3-year-old nation and all but scuttling peace talks.

Kerry’s visit will come against the backdrop of last week’s massacre of several hundred civilians in the northern city of Bentiu by rebel fighters. On Friday, the government in Juba released four politicians who had been charged with treason in a negotiation attempt with rebels to set conditions for peace.