There may be hope for over a hundred thousand internally displaced people in South Sudan.

The government has offered an immediate cease fire to rebels … and has released eight former senior politicians accused of plotting a coup.

President Kiir’s position was strengthened earlier, when the country’s neighbours said they wouldn’t accept any attempt to oust him.

But the government Information Minister,Michael Makuei, sounds a note of caution…

“We are committed to peace and for that matter we have accepted the cessation of hostilities – if it will not be exploited. But, if it is exploited, definitely we will not allow them to continue killing the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan.”

Fighting broke out on December the 15th, and took on ethnic overtones.

The rebels, led by the former vice president Riek Machar, are mainly Nuer, government forces, led by the president, are Dinka,

It’s believed a thousand people have died during the conflict.