The South Sudanese army said on Saturday that it repelled an attack by rebels backed by neighbouring Sudan outside Malakal, capital of the fledgling country's Upper Nile State.

"It was Sudan-supported militias that attacked SPLA (South Sudan army) positions," around Malakal on Friday, Colonel Philip Aguer told AFP, adding that the South Sudanese army repelled the attack, but he could not say whether there were any casualties.