Ugandan rebels on Thursday refuted accusations that it was behind a spate of killings in Southern Sudan and reiterated their commitment to peace talks aimed at ending the 20-year rebel insurgency in the north.

Addressing a news conference in Nairobi, the rebels who have waged a two-decade-long war against the Ugandan government blamed the current wave of insecurity on Ugandan army and numerous militias roaming in Southern Sudan.

"LRA/M has not declared war against any person in Southern Sudan. We have not declared war against any physical objects or property be it privately owned or public in South Sudan," LRA/M spokesman Obonyo Olweny told journalists in Nairobi.

"LRA/M is not responsible for the killings, ambushes and attacks taking place in Southern Sudan," Olweny added.

The rebels also condemned remarks attributed to South Sudan President Salva Kiir early this week that warned of military actions against LRA if they continue to terrorize his people and if the rebels remain a threat to peace in the vast region.

"The remarks by President Kiir show that his country has disqualified itself from being an honest peace broker and has being acting under the influence of the Ugandan government," said Geoffrey Ayo, LRA's Secretary for Information and Publicity.

The rebels said they would not resume talks with the Ugandan government, which have been going on under South Sudan's mediation in Juba since July, unless a new mediator and another country is found to host them.

They want Kenya or South Africa as alternative venues, a demand the government of Uganda has roundly rejected. The rebels claim they are concerned about their security after Sudanese President Umar Hassan al-Bashir vowed to "get rid of the LRA from Sudan."

The rebels have waged a two-decade-long war against the Ugandan government, killing hundreds and displacing at least 1.6 million people in northern Uganda.

The Juba talks -- the latest in many attempts to end the LRA insurgency -- were plagued from the start by profound mistrust on both sides, which spiked earlier this week with the military and rebels accusing each other of attacks.

Source: Xinhua