Witnesses say government-backed militias have attacked a South Darfur refugee camp over the past three days, killing six people and injuring 14 during their search for rebels from Sudan's Darfur region.
The United Nations confirmed there had been shooting in the Kalma camp outside Nyala town, capital of South Darfur, over the past two days, but could not say who was involved.
Sudanese officials were not immediately available to comment on the raid, but have in the past denied that it was arming militias. It has previously raided the camp, saying rebels were based there.
"The government sent militias into the camp and they were looking for six people they wanted to arrest," said camp resident, Abu Sherati, who added that around 50 shacks had been burned down.
Another camp resident said raids had continued on and off for the past month. Both telephoned Reuters from the camp.
The Kalma camp is home to about 90,000 people who fled their homes in Darfur during more than 4 years of rape, looting and killing.
Different tribes living in the camp have clashed, armed men have raided it and government authorities have tried to regain control of it.
A proliferation of weapons and breakdown of law and order throughout South Darfur state have provoked attacks on African Union peacekeepers, civilians and towns in recent weeks ahead of peace talks due to begin on October 27 in Libya. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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