More than 16 thousand people have sought shelter after two days of intense fighting in South Sudan's capital, Juba.

Many of the displaced take refuge in a UN compound next to Juba airport.

Aid workers say the number of refugees is rising and food supplies are running low.

The UN says up to 500 people have died in clashes between rival army factions

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED JUBA RESIDENT, SAYING:

"You can find a lot of bodies all over the place. I had my cousin over there, he is not even bringing bodies right now. And I had a lot of friends that were out there with them for a couple of days - now they are all gone."

Many more people have been wounded as authorities try to regain complete control of the city, after what they say was an attempted military coup by the former Vice-President, Riek Machar.

The Juba government said it had arrested 10 major political figures and was hunting for its former vice president.

U.S. Secretary of Sta