UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the deadly violence over the weekend in the disputed Abyei Administrative Area, in which two peacekeepers and numerous civilians were killed, his spokesman said.

"He condemns the violence and attacks against the peacekeeping force and calls on the governments of South Sudan and Sudan to swiftly investigate the attacks, with the assistance of the peacekeeping force, known as UNISFA, and to bring the perpetrators to justice," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman. 

"He reminds all parties that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes."