File Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (Agence France-Presse)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday he was profoundly disappointed with the failure of South Sudan's warring factions to reach a peace deal but said talks should continue.
President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar missed a deadline imposed by regional mediators to reach a power-sharing deal that could end the 14-month conflict.
Ban said the leaders failed "to display statesmanship" but he nevertheless called "for the continuation of the negotiations."
The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to set up a sanctions regime that would punish those who block peace efforts with an assets freeze and global travel ban.
Fighting broke out in South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, in December 2013 when Kiir accused his sacked deputy Machar of attempting a coup.
More than 1.5 million people have been displaced in the conflict and 2.5 million are in dire need of food aid in the country, which declared independence from Sudan in 2011.
At least 113,000 civilians have fled to UN bases for protection as government troops and fighters are accused of waging terror campaigns of rape and killing.