Sudan: Militia kill five in disputed oil region

Sudanese militia have attacked a village in the disputed Abyei region, killing five people and adding to North-South tensions in the oil-producing area as South Sudan prepares for independence later this year.

The top official in the region blamed the Arab Misseriya tribe allied to the North. "Their intention is just to depopulate the area, to terrorise the civilians so that they leave," said Deng Arop, from the pro-South Dinka Ngok tribe.

A spokeswoman from the UN peacekeeping mission confirmed the attack but could not say who the attackers were.