"An armed militia attacked Mayoum county on October 29 morning and the SPLA forces responded to the attack," Gideon Gatpan Thoar, information minister of the Unity state, told Xinhua.

"Fifteen civilians were killed and 18 others were injured, while around 60 of the rebels were also killed in the battle which lasted for about an hour," he added.

"We are still counting the number of the dead and the wounded, but we are sure that 60 of the rebels were killed. There are also injured people among civilians," the official said.

A rebel militia in Unity announced on October 28 that it was determined to launch violent resistance against the state authorities and urged the personnel of the NGOs and UN organizations to leave the area in a week's time for their safety, arguing that the "people of the state" would launch a violent resistance against the government of the state governor, Taban Deng.

Xinhua