Baku, January 19 (AZERTAC). Members of a South Sudan tribe that was previously targeted in a massive ethnic assault killed 47 people in another revenge attack, escalating the tribal conflict in the world`s newest nation, an official said.

Members of the Murle community attacked a community called Duk Padiet in Jonglei state Monday evening, said Philip Thon Leek Deng, a member of parliament who spoke from South Sudan`s capital of Juba.

Some of the residents of Duk Padiet – who are from the Lou Nuer tribe – fought back, killing an unspecified number of attackers, "but the majority of the 47 killed are young children who could not run, old women, old men, disabled people," said Deng, who is a Lou Nuer. There was no immediate confirmation of his casualty tolls.

In a statement, US National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor acknowledged the escalation in violence in recent weeks and urged all sides to refrain from further attacks.