Areas in South Sudan where people have been killed in recent weeks over grazing rights for their cattle. The country will hold an election later this year on the future of the country.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
At least 140 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in Southern Sudan, officials say, as aid agencies warn that the country faces a return to war.
Deputy governor of Warrap state Sabino Makana said members of the Nuer group attacked Dinka cattle herders and seized thousands of animals.
Most of the violence happened over the weekend in the city of Tonj, he said.
The UN says more than 2,000 people have been killed in ethnic violence in the south since last January.
More people died in Southern Sudan than in Darfur last year.
'Lethal cocktail'
The north and south fought a 22-year civil war that left some 1.5 million people dead.
A 2005 peace deal ended the conflict and created a power-sharing government.
But 10 international aid agencies warned on Wednesday that a "lethal cocktail" of rising violence, chronic poverty and political tensions was pushing the accord towards collapse.
Southern politicians accuse President Omar al-Bashir's allies of arming rival groups in the south to stoke up trouble.
They say Mr Bashir wants to destabilise the region to sabotage a national election planned for April, and a referendum on southern independence the following year.
The Warrap state deputy governor told Reuters news agency that the Nuer attackers killed 139 Dinka herders and wounded dozens more on Saturday.
He said many of the Nuers also died, but he did not have reliable figures.
The clashes came to light only after a UN security team visited the remote area by aircraft two days ago, AFP news agency reported.
"Local sources on the ground said that at least 140 people had been killed, 90 wounded and 30,000 head of cattle had been stolen," said senior UN official Lise Grande.
Southern Sudan remains one of the poorest areas of the world and clashes over resources are common.
Southern Sudan All Sudan Population: 7.5m to 9.7m Population: 42.2m Area: 640,000 sq km Area: 2.5m sq km Maternal mortality: 1,700 deaths per 100,000 births Maternal mortality: 1,107 deaths per 100,000 births Access to clean water: 50% Access to clean water: 70% Life expectancy: 42 years Life expectancy: 58.92 years.
Sources: CIA, UN, UNFPA
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/8445872.stm
Published: 2010/01/07 14:48:40 GMT
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