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South Sudan accuses Sudan of airstrikes, killing 1

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AP Juba (South Sudan)
South Sudan's government today accused Sudan of bombing two locations in its territory, killing at least one soldier and wounding others.

A suspected Sudanese warplane bombed Maban and Renk counties of Upper Nile state on Sunday and Monday, said Peter Hoth, a state minister for information.

Hoth said one soldier was killed in Renk, near the border of Sudan, and others wounded.

"We do not know the motive why the Sudanese are bombing inside the Republic of South Sudan," Hoth said by phone from Renk.

Hoth said four children and a woman were wounded when two bombs landed in Maban county on Sunday.
 

South Sudan's army spokesman, Col Philip Aguer, confirmed the death and said nine other soldiers were wounded.

Aguer said Sudan is likely responsible because it has the only hostile air force in the region. He said the aircraft that dropped the bombs was an Antonov, which comprise a large part of Sudan's air attack capabilities.

In April, South Sudan accused Sudan of bombing its Northern Bahr al Ghazal state, killing four people.

South Sudan broke away from Sudan in 2011 following decades of armed struggle and a peace agreement but border skirmishes have continued.

Both countries at times trade accusations over harboring or supporting rebels.

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First Published: Jun 17 2015 | 9:28 PM IST

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