The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) dispatched patrols to Todach, the scene of
reported fighting late on Monday, and discovered the bodies of 11 uniformed
personnel and three civilians, the mission's spokesperson Kouider Zerrouk told
the UN News Centre.
The uniformed personnel were members of joint integrated units (JIUs), comprising personnel from both Northern and Southern Sudan. These units were set up as part of efforts to implement the peace agreement that ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan.
Zerrouk said the peacekeepers were unable to confirm who was responsible for the killings, adding that the attacks were being investigated.
"We're concerned about these recent clashes in the Abyei area and we call on all concerned parties to refrain from using violence," he said.
Tensions have been high in Abyei for months as the area remains in dispute between the north and the south, which will formally separate from the rest of Sudan in Jul.
A referendum on the future status of Abyei was supposed to have been held in January but never took place amid disputes over voter eligibility.
