Seventeen civilians were killed in recent Sudanese air strikes in South Sudan's border state of Western Bahral-Ghazal, South Sudan's military spokesman said Thursday.

"The Sudanese army has launched air strikes for two days at Jau and Boro areas in Western Bahral-Ghazal state which resulted in killing of 17 civilians," Philip Aguer, spokesman of South Sudan's army SPLA, told Xinhua.

"Sudan, through these attacks, is seeking to drag South Sudan to war," Aguer added, noting that the SPLA's command has directed its forces to exercise self-restraint.

The accusations have been denied by a spokesman of the Sudanese army as "incorrect."

Sudan and South Sudan have been exchanging accusations of supporting each other's rebel movements, after South Sudan declared independence on July 9.