They stole some 150 head of cattle and when the villagers gave chase, they opened fire on them before returning to torch their homes, it added.

Officials from the SLM, one of two rebel groups which launched an armed uprising more than two years ago, were not immediately available for comment.

The Arab-dominated regime in Khartoum responded to the rebellion by unleashing Arab militias in a scorched-earth campaign that prompted the UN Security Council last month to demand war crimes trials before the International Criminal Court of 51 named suspects, including high officials.