South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir gestures during a news conference in Juba December 18, 2013. Kiir said on Wednesday he was ready for dialogue with his rival who he has accused of trying to force him out of power through fighting that has killed up to 500 people and brought the two-year-old nation close to civil war. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (SOUTH SUDAN – Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS)