JUBA - Several soldiers werekilled in clashes between south Sudan's army and rebel militia
in oil-producing Unity State, the army said on Friday.Ahead of independence in July, analysts have warned southSudan must maintain security to avoid becoming a failed stateand destabilizing much of the region.
At least seven rebel militia are fighting the southern army(SPLA) across Sudan's south, where more than 800 people havebeen killed this year from the clashes and traditional tribalconflicts, the United Nations has said.