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19 People Killed In Clashes In Sudan's South Kordofan State
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Apr 14, 2011 - 7:42:22 AM

19 People Killed In Clashes In Sudan's South Kordofan State

KHARTOUM, April 14 (Bernama) -- At least 19 people were killed and 23 others injured in tribal clashes Wednesday evening in South Kordofan state, which is currently witnessing complementary elections, an official told Xinhua Thursday.

"19 people were killed and around 23 others injured in armed clashes between two tribes at Um Al-Faid area on the eastern sector of the state," said Gamar Dalma, a leading member in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and adviser to South Kordofan state government.

"The area has witnessed previous disputes between Dar Fayed and Tagali tribes in the wake of killing of a native administration leader at the area, but the dispute developed these days due to the complementary elections currently witnessed by the region," he added.

"The security conditions are presently calm after intervention of the joint forces," he said.

Dalma accused trends he did not name of supporting armed militia with the aim to cripple the electoral process in the state, adding that "the SPLM has addressed the Sudanese National Elections Commission (NEC) and notified it with the recent events which took place in the state."

Media reports said 500 houses were burnt during the clashes and a great number of the citizens have fled the area.

South Kordofan State postponed the elections, in the wake of a memorandum presented by the state's political forces to the NEC and the Sudanese presidency, complaining that the share of the state constituencies and representation in the National Assembly ( parliament) and the national legislative council was weak according to the result of the country's fifth population census.

-- BERNAMA