Heavy gunfire erupted in South Sudan's capital Juba on Thursday evening after security forces moved to arrest the former head of the intelligence service, according to Reuters reporters and an alert sent to United Nations staff.

Major General Lul Ruai Koang, a spokesperson for South Sudan People’s Defense Force, told journalists that the gunfire resulted from a misunderstanding during an operation to relocate Koor to his secondary residence, as directed by President Salva Kiir.

JUBA: South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir held an urgent meeting of top security brass on Friday after a shootout at the home of powerful former spy chief Akol Koor, who was sacked almost two months ago amid rumours of a coup plot.

Sporadic heavy gunfire has been reported in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, in what appears to be clashes between rival armed groups. A security guard in the Thongpiny area told Radio Tamazuj that the fighting began near the residence of former spy chief Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, before spreading to areas near Juba Airport.