A Sudanese cabinet minister is among 32 people who were killed when a plane carrying a government delegation to an Islamic festival crashed in South Kordofan state.

Authorities say their Russian-made Antonov plane crashed in a mountainous area near the town of Talodi on Sunday, where a celebration was taking place to mark the end of Ramadan.

The SUNA news agency identified the cabinet official who died as Ghazi al-Sadeq, minister of guidance and endowments. It also reported that other political and military figures were killed, including a crew from the state news agency.

Initial reports indicated the aircraft went down during harsh weather. However there was no immediate word on what caused the crash.

South Kordofan is located along the volatile and disputed area bordering South Sudan, where forces have been battling ethnic rebels traditionally aligned with the south.

A spokesman for the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement North said his group had nothing to do with the plane crash.