Five Oil Workers Killed in South Sudan Attack

At least five South Sudanese workers were killed after attackers stormed their compound in the key Unity oil field, an official in the Chinese-owned company said Thursday, amid wider violence wracking the young nation.

"A group of armed men came to the compound and killed staff" late on Wednesday, a senior official at the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) said, not wanting to give his name as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

It was not clear if the attack was linked to rebel battles with government troops following an alleged coup attempt against South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

But oil production forms over 95 percent of South Sudan's fledgling economy, and any attack targeting the crucial installations raises fears of the stability of the vital industry.

However, attacks by militia forces and clashes between heavily armed cattle herders are common in the region, the home state of the fugitive former vice president Riek Machar, who is accused by Kiir of launching the coup bid.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission said it was sheltering civilians in Bentiu, the main town of Unity state.

In a separate attack, 11 people were reportedly killed in the Thar Jath oil field, also in Unity state.

GNPOC is a consortium led by China's state oil giant CNPC.