South Sudan rebel chief orders ceasefire: spokesman

South Sudan former Vice President and South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar talks on a phone during a press conference in Nairobi on July 8, 2015

ADDIS ABABA - South Sudan's former vice president Riek Machar ordered his rebel troops to lay down their arms in line with a ceasefire to end the 20-month civil war, his spokesman said Saturday.

His rival, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, had on Thursday ordered all government troops to cease fighting rebel forces as part of the peace agreement.