SUDAN TALKS THREATENED!

LRA attack threatens Sudan talks.

Gunmen in southern Sudan have attacked the outskirts of the city of Juba, killing nine people. Residents said the gunmen belonged to the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army who have been fighting for many years in northern Uganda. The attack comes just after LRA leaders arrived in Juba having been invited by south Sudan Vice-President Riek Machar. He has offered to mediate a peace agreement between the rebels and the Ugandan government.

But both Uganda and the International Criminal Court in the Hague have complained, saying that Sudan should arrest the LRA leaders as indicted war criminals. They have also criticised Mr Machar after television pictures showed him handing over money to LRA leaders to help pay for food for their militia.

The LRA has kidnapped many thousands of children over the years. It turns the boys into fighters or porters and uses many of the girls as sex slaves.

Previous attempts to negotiate an end to the war have failed, with both the Ugandan government and the rebels being accused of lacking commitment to peace talks.

BBC NEWS REPORT.