Sudan minister shot by in-law

A minister in the Government of South Sudan was shot dead inside his ministry, days after referendum results confirmed the region will become Africa's newest independent state, officials said.

South Sudan's army spokesman, Philip Aguer, said the Minister of Rural Development and Co-operatives, Jimmy Lemi, was shot dead inside his office in the heart of the region's capital, Juba.

South Sudan's Interior Minister, Gier Chouang Aloung, said: "We want
to make very clear there is no political motive whatsoever ... it is a family issue ... he was killed by his own brother-in-law."