Militia kill 13, 5 reported missing in Darfur

A militia attack killed 13 people in a village in Sudan’s North Darfur, amid continued violence in the area. The deaths on Friday targeted Sigili village and was a result of a tribal clash between local militia and Zaghawa. Sources said five people were also reported missing. According to UN Chief Ban Ki-moon civilians in the area have been subjected to harassment by militia groups since July. He said disputes between farmers and pastoralists over land use triggered most of the civil violence. In the Hashaba area northwest of el-Fasher, more than 70 civilians died in September from rebel-government fighting and aerial bombardments, sources said. No casualties were reported from that incident. Land disputes caused clashes between Arab nomads and Tunjur farmers in Hashaba before fighting reportedly escalated after government and rebel forces also became involved. The UN estimates at least 300,000 people died but the government puts the toll at 10,000. An estimated 1.7 million people in Darfur are still living in refugee camps, sources said.