New York, Shawwal 25, 1437, Jul 30, 2016, SPA -- The UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission to South Sudan until August 12 to allow additional time for the council to discuss changes to the mandate of mission in response to renewed fighting in the country, dpa reported. Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN, said the Security Council needed to act swiftly to strengthen the mandate of the mission, which is tasked with protecting civilians and facilitating the implementation of a fragile peace agreement in the war-torn country. Power said the recommendation from countries neighbouring South Sudan to enhance the UN mission's capacities, especially in the capital, Juba, was a good basis for amending the mission's mandate. "This resolution offers additional time for the regional leaders to meet to engage the government of South Sudan, and it offers us additional time to find a way forward before we proceed with mandating this new force within [the mission]," Power said. Clashes erupted between soldiers and opposition supporters as the country marked the fifth anniversary of its independence from Sudan on July 9. The violence dealt a blow to a peace agreement, signed last year in hopes of ending a power struggle between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar that turned into a military conflict in December 2013. -- SPA 03:12 LOCAL TIME 00:12 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w