Ethnic violence erupts in South Sudan's Wau town: Witnesses

Nairobi: Heavy gunfire was heard and there were reports of ethnic militias aligned with the South Sudanese government going house-to-house searching for members of the opposition, forcing residents of Wau town indoors on Monday, witnesses said. 

"Armed militias are moving from house to house," one resident said. Another said he had fled an attack in which many people, including his cousin, were killed. 

Both described members of the president`s Dinka tribe searching for members of the local Lou and Fertit tribes. 

Both men asked that their names not be used. Wau is in the northwest of the country.