Riek Machar's return to Juba in limbo

South Sudan's government and rebels on Wednesday accused each other of hindering rebel leader Riek Machar's return to the capital to form a unity government, with monitors of a peace deal warning the delay was putting the agreement at risk.

A government official said Machar was held up because he had wanted to bring equipment and troops into Juba in excess of what was agreed with Kiir's camp. Machar told Al Jazeera television that the government was creating "obstacles" to his return.

The United States and the United Nations Security Council have both voiced concern over this latest setback. The body monitoring the peace deal, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) also said it was worried.

"The agreement is at risk," said former Botswana President Festus Mogae who is the JMEC chairman. "Having come so close to the formation of the transitional government of national unity, all parties must ensure that the spirit of reconciliation, compromise and dialogue embodied by the agreement should be protected," he said in a statement.

Under the power sharing deal, Machar will return to Juba and immediately be sworn in as first vice president.

JMEC includes members of the South Sudanese government, the opposition, as well as representatives from the African Union, United Nations, the United States, China and European nations. JMEC said it would meet on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Machar and his rival President Salva Kiir signed a peace agreement in August aimed at ending a two-year conflict in which thousands have been killed and 2 million forced to flee their homes.

Implementation of the August peace agreement has not been smooth.

(Reuters)