Hundreds of people took part in a peaceful march to the UN security force base in Abyei Town, according to the Abyei Today Programme.

The protesters were condemning a cattle raid on June 14 in which four people were killed and 66 cattle stole.

Civil society groups handed over a statement calling for better protection of civilians by UN peacekeepers.  The Abyei legislative council called on the UN force, UNISFA, to respond rapidly to security incidents.

A local leader speaking to Radio Tamazuj blamed last week's attack on Sudanese Armed Forces and a Misseriya milita.

UNISFA is a military led mission with 3,970 troops mandared to protect civilians in Abyei.

File photo: Protesters in front of the UN base in Abyei in October 2010.