Egypt has denied reports that its warplanes have bombed the rebel-held areas in South Sudan’s Upper Nile, after SPLA-IO rebels accused Cairo of dropping nine bombs on their positions recently.

According to Reuters, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid denied the alleged air strikes, saying: "Egypt does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries."

For his part, South Sudan presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny also denied claims that Egypt had conducted any bombings in the country, describing the allegations as "lies."

Ateny told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that there are no Egyptian airplanes in South Sudan, saying the government has gaven the rebels a deadline to response to President Kiir's call for national dialogue in the country.

"There are no Egyptian airplanes in South Sudan, and we do not have time to bomb the rebels with airplanes. We have given the rebels a deadline to response to the national dialogue, so there is no need to attack the rebels,"said Ateny.

File photo: An Antonov aircraft flying over the Nuba Mountains (Radio Tamazuj)