Two people were killed and eight wounded as suspected rebels shelled the capital of Sudan's war-torn South Kordofan state on Friday, residents said.

The attack struck the east of the town at about 1:30 pm (10:30 GMT), they said.

"Two shells hit an open area and three struck houses which burned to the ground. Two people were killed and eight injured," said one resident, who witnessed the attack across from his own home.