Sudanese rebel group on Saturday said it had killed 70 soldiers during the battle of the previous day in South Kordofan state close to the Sudan-South Sudan border.

"A big battle took place yesterday in Dalko area, northeast of Kadogli, the capital of South Kordofan state," said Arno Taloudy, spokesman of Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)/northern sector, in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua.

"The battle started at 6:00 a.m. (GMT 0300) and lasted until 7: 00 p.m. (GMT 1600) local time where the SPLA killed 70 enemy soldiers while seven SPLA fighters were killed and 17 other injured," he noted.

The Sudanese army spokesman could not be contacted immediately to comment on the rebels' claims.

South Kordofan has been witnessing clashes between the Sudanese army and the SPLA rebels since June 2011.

Sudan is accusing South Sudan of supporting the rebels of the SPLA/northern sector which is fighting the Sudanese army in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.

Sudan refuses to negotiate with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/northern sector until it breaks links with South Sudan, while the South Sudanese government denies having any connections with the rebel movement in Sudan.

In September, Sudan and South Sudan signed a cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including an item banning both countries from supporting the armed rebel groups in the other country.