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Juba - A southern Sudan cabinet minister on Friday accused the Ugandan military of killing 16 Sudanese civilians and said the deaths would be raised at talks with Kampala next week.
The Ugandan army engaged Toposa tribesmen on the border between Uganda and Sudan six weeks ago, killing at least 16 people and wounding 18, regional co-operation Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said.
The Toposa reported losing 2 400 cattle, 2 500 goats and 600 donkeys in the June 18 incident, the minister said.
"They engaged the Ugandan army for eight hours," Marial said. "For civilians to fight for eight hours means they were heavily armed."
The fighting was brought to the attention of parliament in semi-autonomous southern Sudan only this week.
Southern Sudanese MPs Martin Lorika and Daniel Achila said in a report to parliament that they believed 23 people were killed, nine injured and 1 500 cows killed in the June 18 incident.
Similar fighting in March left another 38 people dead and 29 injured.
Southern Sudan has nomadic tribes living on the borders with surrounding countries, such as the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
The tribesmen wander frequently looking for pasture for the livestock.
Marial said the government may request that Uganda allow the tribesmen a certain period each year to graze during talks he said were likely to be held next week.
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