United States and United Nations representatives warned in separate meetings of escalated tension and potential violence in South Sudan. Keith Harper, the US representative at the UN Human Rights Council said in Geneva yesterday that they have credible information that the South Sudanese government is currently targeting civilians in Central Equatoria and preparing for large-scale attacks in the coming days or weeks. <br/><br/>In an interview, the claim was quickly rejected by his South Sudanese counterpart, and South Sudan Ambassador Kuol Alor Kuol Arop denied any build-up of forces or plans for an offensive. <br/><br/>Yesterday in Juba, UN human rights experts warned of unprecedented levels of violence and ethnic tension across the war-torn country. A group of international monitors were blocked by the government from traveling to Central Equatoria to investigate violations of the country's peace deal earlier this week.<br/><br/>The United States has been pressing for a U.N. arms embargo and other targeted sanctions against the government of South Sudan and opposition leader Riek Machar, but has been recently stalled in its efforts by a lack of unity among the 15 Security Council members.