Human Rights Watch on Thursday called for an international probe into what it said were serious abuses.

Human Rights Watch on Thursday called for an international probe into what it said were serious abuses, Agence France Presse reported.

The group said they are carried out by both government and rebel forces in South Sudan's month-old conflict.

The UN should impose an asset freeze and travel ban on anyone in the country linked to violations of human rights and humanitarian laws, it added.

Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said that “appalling crimes have been committed against civilians for no other reason than their ethnicity.”

Fighting erupted on December 15 following a clash between army units loyal to President Salva Kiir and his main rival, former vice president Riek Machar.