JONGLEI STATE, South Sudan, Rabi'I 30, 1435, Jan 31, 2014, SPA -- South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar said on Friday that government threats to try him for treason were an attempt to scupper peace talks, and called for the president to resign, in his first face-to-face interview since violence erupted. The government said this week that former vice president Machar and six of his allies should face the charge, accusing him of trying to launch a coup after fighting broke out between rival groups of soldiers in the capital mid-December. Machar denied the accusation and took refuge in remote Jonglei state as clashes between forces loyal to him and government troops spread across the oil-producing nation, killing thousands. -- SPA 20:06 LOCAL TIME 17:06 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1193927