Juba, Sudan:
At least 140 people have been killed and 90 wounded in the remote troubled Wunchuei region of Warrap state in southern Sudan over the past week, a senior UN official said on Thursday.
Clashes, apparently between rival tribal groups, occurred some time since the beginning of the year but reports emerged only after a UN security team visited the remote area by aircraft two days ago.
"Local sources on the ground said that at least 140 people had been killed, 90 wounded and 30,000 head of cattle had been stolen," said Lise Grande, the UN Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in south Sudan.
Grande said a military team of UN peacekeepers had left on Thursday by vehicles to ascertain the exact situation on the ground.
"This is a matter of deep concern," Grande said. The dead were from the Dinka people common in the area.
Local sources suggested that a rival group from the Nuer people were responsible, but the report could not be immediately confirmed.
Clashes between rival ethnic groups in south Sudan erupt frequently -- often sparked by cattle rustling and disputes over natural resources, while others are retaliation for previous attacks.