South Sudan tribe 'attacks town' of Pibor

Cattle are vital to South Sudan's economy, but raids have increased since independence in July

Six-thousand fighters from the Lou Nuer tribe in South Sudan have attacked the town of Pibor, home to the rival Murle tribe, a military spokesman has said.

A hospital and other parts of the town have been set alight, Colonel Philip Aguer told the BBC.
United Nations troops and the South Sudanese army were unable to prevent the attack, which follows a wave of violence linked to cattle rustling.
Tens of thousands of people had fled Pibor, fearing violence.

The United Nations deployed more combat troops to defend the town on Friday, following reports that the armed Lou Nuer men were approaching.
Fighters from the tribe have been marching through Jonglei state burning homes and seizing livestock.
The entire town of Lukangol was burnt to the ground last week. About 20,000 civilians managed to flee the town before the attack, but dozens were killed on both sides.
About 1,000 people have been killed in Jonglei in recent months, during inter-ethnic fighting, triggered by the cattle raids.
The latest violence comes as the governor of Jonglei state and the vice-president of South Sudan are trying to mediate between the rival tribes.