August 26, 2014-According to the Sudan Tribune, Riek Machar’s South Sudanese rebels have denied shooting down the UN South Sudan Mission helicopter on Tuesday. South Sudan has accused the rebels of shooting down the helicopter at Tong, about 10 kilometers south of Bentiu. Three Russian crew members were killed in the crash.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang has denied involvement by Riek Machar’s rebel opposition group, saying the allegations were “unfounded and baseless.” The rebel group has called for UNMISS to carry out a full investigation. According to a statement by the rebels, field commanders had heard a loud explosion near Rubkona airstrip and found an aircraft had crashed. They allege that the area where the helicopter crashed is government-controlled.