60 people killed in renewed tribal clashes in North Darfur

February 23, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – 60 people were killed and 83 wounded following the resumption of clashes that started last month between two tribes in North Darfur.

The official SUNA confirmed reports about the renewed fighting saying an armed group of Al-Rezeigat Abballa assaulted a group of Beni Hussein displaced in El Sereaf, North Darfur following January clashes in Jebel Amir over the control of gold mines.

60 people were killed including children and women in the attack as over 83 other were wounded.

Eyewitnesses from the area said local authorities intervened to stop the fighting and transported the wounded persons to El-Fasher hospital for treatment.

The governor of the troubled North Darfur state Osman Kibir travelled to the area of clashes in the western part of El-Sereaf in a bid to calm the growing tensions among Beni Hussein.

The governor is accused of supporting local militias that are used to fight rebel groups.

The well-armed Abballa are part of the government militias. They attacked Beni Hussein riding four-wheeled vehicles, horses and camels.

The UN agencies last month estimated that the fighting in Jebel Amir displaced some 100,000 people to El Sereaf, Kabkabya and Saraf Omra in North Darfur.

(ST)