SOUTH SUDAN'S army has shot down a United Nations helicopter killing all four crew on board, a UN spokesman says.

The helicopter was hit on a reconnaissance flight over a troubled part of the world's newest country where the government has already tried to stop the UN and rights groups investigating allegations of massacres and abuses.

A UN spokesman, Eduardo Del Buey, told reporters in New York the South Sudan People's Liberation Army had admitted to the UN that it had hit the MI-8 helicopter.

The helicopter was in the Likuangole district of troubled Jonglei state in the east of South Sudan, which became independent in July last year after splitting from Sudan.

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''Initial reports indicated the UN helicopter crashed and burned. The mission immediately launched a search and recovery mission. It has confirmed the death of all four crew members,'' Mr Del Buey said.

The UN Mission in South Sudan initially said only that the helicopter had crashed

''In subsequent communications between the mission and the South Sudanese armed forces, the SPLA told the mission that it had shot down the helicopter,'' Mr del Buey said.

No reasons for the shooting were immediately given.

No South Sudanese government and military officials were immediately available for comment.

The helicopter was on a reconnaissance flight in Jonglei state.

Agence France-Presse