A ceasefire appears to be holding in South Sudan's capital, Juba, after four days of heavy fighting between rival forces left more than 270 people dead.

Direct peace talks have begun between the South Sudanese government and rebel forces for the first time since a recent escalation in violence, despite reports of renewed fighting across several parts of the country.

South Sudan's central government lost control of the capital of a key oil-producing state Sunday, the military said, as renegade forces loyal to a former deputy president seized more territory in fighting that has raised fears of full-blown civil war in the world's newest country.