NEW : Talks are expected to start Friday , representative of mediating bloc ##s . Johnson said Wednesday it was too early to say if the planned talks were a breakthrough , `` The army is battling rebel forces south of Unity , a military spokesman says . South Sudan 's president has declared a state of emergency in Unity and neighboring states . A U.N envoy calls on all parties to ` ` take a decisive step to cease all violence ''
NEW : Talks are expected to start Friday , representative of mediating bloc ##s . The army is battling rebel forces south of Unity , a military spokesman says . South Sudan 's president has declared a state of emergency in Unity and neighboring states . A U.N envoy calls on all parties to ` ` take a decisive step to cease all violence ''