Girl, peacekeeper killed in Sudan shelling: UN

Khartoum (AFP) - Shelling killed a four-year-old girl and an Ethiopian peacekeeper in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, the United Nations mission said Friday.

Abyei has been contested since Sudan split into two countries in 2011 and there have been tensions between the Arab Misseriya and Ngok Dinka peoples in the region.

In Thursday's attack, seven shells were fired, five of which landed near the home of the Ngok Dinka chief and one inside the residence's compound, said UNISFA, the United Nations interim security force for Abyei.

"The incident resulted in the death of one Ethiopian military officer and a four-year-old girl from the local community. Three other locals were wounded."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and said those responsible should be brought to justice.

The UN chief urged Sudan and South Sudan to help the mission promote dialogue between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya.

"He calls on both communities to remain calm and avoid any escalation of this tragic incident," a spokesman said.

The mission said it had placed several units in the area on high alert.

UNISFA warned the attack could lead to further violence, labelling it the work of "anti-peace elements who do not want to see peace return to Abyei".

It was not possible to reach the Sudanese military for comment, and the South Sudanese army said they had no information about the shelling.

South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011 under a peace deal signed to end 22 years of bloody civil war in the country.