More than 170 killed in tribal violence in south Sudan

JUBA, Sudan, April 20 (Reuters) - More than 170 people were killed in attacks on Lou Nuer villages by rival Murle tribesmen in southern Sudan this weekend, a government official said on Monday.

"By 4pm yesterday 177 dead bodies had already been found by our team," Akobo county commissioner Doyak Chol said. "We are expecting more than 300 by the time all the places have been checked."

A cycle of cattle raiding and counter-attacks in southern Sudan have plagued the oil-rich region since a peace accord in 2005 between the north and south peace ended one of Africa's longest running conflicts.

Remote Jonglei state, where French oil giant Total (TOTF.PA) holds a big, mainly unexplored concession, has been hit hard by cattle raiding and associated killings that have fractured communities along ethnic lines. (Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Editing by Angus MacSwan)