Sudan: Some 250 dead in tribal clashes

Clashes between rival Arab tribes in western Sudan's Kordofan region killed almost 250 people over two days earlier this week, including 75 policemen, Sudan's interior minister said. According to the AP, the Messariah and Rezeigat tribes clashed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Interior Minister Hamed Ibrahim told the Cabinet on Thursday that in addition to the police, 169 tribesman died in the fighting, including 89 from the Messariah and 80 from the Rezeigat. Calm has now returned to the area, he was quoted as saying by the state news agency.

A previous round of fighting last year between the two tribes left over 70 from both sides dead, Messariah chief Babou Nimr Mukhtar told The Associated Press. According to him, fighting started Tuesday when 2,000 Rezeigat gunmen on horseback and in trucks attacked his tribe. Police were deployed to the area to prevent the fighting but were attacked by the Rezeigat, he said.