Sudan warplanes bomb South Sudan town

JUBA — Sudanese warplanes launched their first attack on a major South Sudanese town on Thursday, as border clashes escalated in the third straight day of violence and fears of all-out war grew.

Five bombs were dropped at dawn targeting a strategic bridge on the edge of Bentiu, the capital of the oil-producing Unity border state and some 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the frontier where rival armies are fighting.

"They dropped bombs in Bentiu town -- apparently they were aiming for a bridge," South Sudan's deputy information minister Atem Yaak Atem told AFP.

"The population is staying in their places, when the planes come they lie down," said Gideon Gatpan, Unity state information minister, adding the village of Thoan had also been bombed, closer to the frontier with the Sudan. Read More