South Sudan ex-VP Machar 'discharged from Khartoum hospital'

Machar was replaced by Taban Deng Gai as South Sudan's first vice president after hundreds of people died in Juba last month in clashes between Machar's forces and government troops.

On Tuesday, the Sudanese government announced that Machar had arrived in Khartoum for "medical treatment", but did not elaborate.

"He has been discharged," Manasseh Zindo, a senior aide from Machar's party SPLM/A [IO], told AFP.

Another party aide, Sabiet Majok, said Machar had been discharged on Friday morning.

"His condition has improved. His leg has improved. Basically, what we know is that his leg had swollen due to long-distance walking," Zindo said.

Following last month's deadly fighting in Juba, Machar escaped to the Democratic Republic of Congo before travelling to Khartoum.

On Tuesday, Sudan said that when Machar arrived in the capital that he needed "immediate medical treatment."

"He's in good health now, but he will stay in Khartoum for some more days," Majok said.

He said Machar plans to meet President Omar al-Bashir, and also to hold a press conference.