12 shot dead by armed robbers in Western Sudan

Khartoum, Jun 9 (AFP) - Twelve people were killed and dozens of others wounded in a recent attack by "armed robbers" who stole cattle in western Sudan, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

West Darfur State Governor Suleiman Abdallah Adam was quoted by Akhbar Al Youm daily as saying the attack took place in Silaiah locality in the area of Kulbus, adding the villagers were killed and wounded when they resisted.

The report did say when the attack happened or how many head of cattle were stolen.

By saying the attack was carried out by "armed robbers," the governor appeared not to be linking the incident to a rebellion that erupted in February last year over charges the central government in Khartoum has neglected the impoverished region.

In what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the rebellion has prompted fierce and widely condemned retaliation by government forces and allied militia.

At least 10 000 people have died and an estimated one million people have fled the region, with more than 100 000 of them taking refuge in neighbouring Chad, according to UN figures.