At least 52 people, including a UN peacekeeper, were killed and 64 others wounded in the Abyei Administrative Area on Saturday during clashes between the armed youth of the Twic community of neighboring Warrap state and Ngok Dinka of Abyei, AP reported Sunday, citing officials.

The Abyei Administrative Area remains a contested area between South Sudan and its neighbor Sudan, which has been mired in conflict since April 15.

The motive for Saturday's attack was not immediately clear but it was suspected to revolve around a land dispute, Bulis Koch, Abyei information minister, told AP.

The two communities have been contesting for years the ownership of a strip of land in the Aneet border area, which separates the two communities.

(With input from agencies)