Attacks halt south Sudan return

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The United Nations refugee agency has suspended its programme to repatriate south Sudanese refugees because of a spate of attacks.

The UNHCR says it has stopped convoys from Uganda following reports that about 40 civilians have been killed in clashes with unidentified gunmen.

Some 14,000 people have returned to south Sudan this year, following the end of a 19-year conflict, the UN says.

Some 350,000 Sudanese still live abroad, with 4m internally displaced.

The UNHCR said it had cancelled plans to send a convoy of refugees back from camps in northern Uganda.

"We will be monitoring the security situation closely before deciding when to resume the repatriation convoys," the UNHCR said in a statement.

Correspondents say the attacks in south Sudan could be linked to peace talks aimed at ending the war in northern Uganda.

The talks are taking place in the south Sudan capital, Juba.

Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army rebels have been leaving the bush to gather in two neutral zones in south Sudan.

Uganda's government and the LRA have accused each other of responsibility for the attacks.