South Sudan 'militia kills dozens'

Fighting in South Sudan has displaced tens of thousands of people

More than 40 people have been killed and scored wounded in an attack on villages in South Sudan's Jonglei state, an army spokesman has said.

The attackers were believed to be members of David Yau Yau's rebel group, the spokesman said.

Jonglei is badly affected by ethnic rivalries and disputes over land and cattle ownership.

More than 1,500 people are estimated to have been killed in the area since South Sudan's independence in 2011.

Tens of thousands have also been left homeless by the fighting.

Col Philip Aguer, the army spokesman, told the BBC at least two villages were burnt during the attack on Sunday.

The militiamen were armed with machine guns and RPG rocket launchers, he added.

Thousands of cattle had also been stolen during the attack, the acting governor of Jonglei, Hussein Maar, said, Associated Press news agency reports.

South Sudan is awash with small arms after decades of conflict against Khartoum's rule.

Khartoum gave it independence in 2011 following talks brokered by the US and regional countries.

Cattle lie at the heart of life for many communities in the country which has hardly any banks - they are used as a form of wealth, to pay dowries and as a source of food in the lean season.

A single cow can be worth hundreds of dollars depending on its colouring.