Sudan plane 'bombs' southern village

Fifteen people are reported to have been killed and many more injured when a plane dropped bombs on a village in southern Sudan.

The rebels Sudan People's Liberation Movement has accused the government of responsibility.

An Antonov bomber attacked in the dark without warning early on Wednesday, according to foreign aid workers inside southern Sudan.

The plane dropped 16 bombs on the village of Rier, in western Upper Nile Province, the aid workers say.

The initial death toll was 11, but it has now reportedly risen to 15, with more than 90 people injured.

'Carnage'

NPA, a Norwegian aid organisation, says it has already flown dozens of wounded people to hospital.

Speaking by satellite telephone one NPA official called it "total carnage", with many children killed and others losing hands and legs to shrapnel.

Rier village is about three hours walk from the front-line in southern Sudan, it is in territory held by the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), who have been fighting a civil war against government troops since 1983.

It is not clear how many of those killed in this attack were rebel soldiers.

Government planes have regularly attacked civilian targets in the south.

In February, at least 17 people were killed by helicopter gunships as they queued up to receive international food aid.

Oil war

The United States Government is actively involved in attempts to broker an end to the war.

Last month, US envoy John Danforth submitted recommendations to President Bush on ending the conflict.

Mr Bush's humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Andrew Natsios, is touring the region right now.

There has been some progress in negotiations, including a ceasefire in the bitterly contested Nuba mountains.

But in a statement the rebels said this latest attack was proof that the Sudanese Government cannot be trusted, reformed or appeased.

The war has been fuelled and complicated by the discovery of vast oil reserves along front-lines.

Washington has called for an equitable distribution of oil revenues, but many observers believe the Sudanese Government wants to seize control of most of the oil fields before agreeing to a lasting settlement.

The conflict is believed to have led to the deaths of well over two million people.

The Islamic government in the north is fighting against southern rebels seeking autonomy or independence.