Ten civilians have been killed by a landmine explosion in Nile State, northern Sudan, where war has been raging for nine months, a doctor said today on condition of anonymity.

The mine exploded as a bus carrying civilians from the Al Jazeera district to the town of Seddi was passing by, the doctor, who works at the hospital in that community, about 180 kilometers from Khartoum, told AFP.

Fighting has been raging in Sudan since April 15 between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. More than 13,000 people have lost their lives and seven million have been displaced.

It is the first time that civilians have been killed by an anti-personnel mine explosion.

For several days now, users of social networking sites have been reporting that the army is laying mines in an area around Seddi, which has not been confirmed by independent sources.

The warring sides have not commented on the explosion, but accuse each other of shelling urban areas and civilian infrastructure, as well as obstructing access to humanitarian aid.

All diplomatic efforts to restore peace, mainly by the US, Saudi Arabia and, more recently, the regional association of East African states (Igad), have failed.

On the ground, the Rapid Support Force appears to have gained some ground as it is not meeting strong resistance from the military.