The White House on Thursday condemned Sudanese army attacks on civilians in South Darfur ahead of a referendum on southern secession in the war-torn east African nation.

"All Sudanese leaders have a responsibility to protect civilian populations -- to do otherwise is unacceptable," White House National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement.

The NSC spokesman said the United States was "deeply concerned" about reports that the Sudanese army attacked and burned the village of Khor Abeche in South Darfur. "The United States condemns this attack on civilians," Hammer said.

Over the weekend, Sudan's army attacked a Darfur rebel group in the village of Khor Abeche, 50 miles (80 km) northeast of the capital of south Darfur, Nyala, burning houses and forcing up to 250 civilians to flee, international peacekeepers said.

Hammer said the leaders of Sudan and Southern Sudan must protect civilians as the January 9 referendum approaches and as both sides consider their future relationship with the international community.

The referendum on the status of Southern Sudan was scheduled under a 2005 peace deal ending the north-south conflict in Africa's longest civil war.

Southern leaders have accused President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and his ruling northern National Congress Party of plotting to disrupt the vote to keep control of oil fields in the south.

The southern ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, has accused the north of a series of bombing raids on its territory in November and December, which it said were aimed at derailing the referendum.

The northern army has denied the bombing raids.

Source: Reuters