41 killed in tribal clashes in Sudan

The clash that started on Thursday between Messiria and Rizeigat tribes in South Darfur state was still continuing on Sunday. "The clashes are still continuing. Until Saturday evening, 41 people were killed and 16 others were injured from both sides," Izz-Eddin Mussa Mandil, a Messiria tribe leader was quoted as saying by Xinhua. Mandil, however, said he did not have details about the toll in Sunday's clashes.

The Rizeigat tribe on Thursday attacked one of Messiria tribe's villages in South Darfur state and then repeated their attack on Friday and Saturday, the leader said. "Today, fierce clashes are still continuing between the two sides," he said. Mandil urged the government to intervene to stop the fighting between the two sides, and threatened to launch a counter-attack.

"The fighting is taking place in our areas. Until now we have not attacked, but we are defending ourselves. We will wait until tomorrow, and if the government does not intervene, we will have to respond to these aggressions," he said. A similar clash in March this year resulted in the death of over 100 people from both sides.