KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - Fighting at a refugee camp in southern Darfur has left several people dead and others missing, an African Union official said Saturday.The clashes in the Kalama refugee camp broke out over differences among tribal groups that signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in 2006 and those who did not sign, according to Al Sahafa, an independent daily newspaper reporting from Darfur. Al Sahafa reported that at least five people were killed and nine were injured.
AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni said "a number of parties were implicated" in the fighting Thursday. He would not elaborate or provide an exact death toll, citing an ongoing investigation.
"We can confirm that a number of persons were killed and others are missing, and the investigations are still going on about the whole episode," Mezni said. "We call upon all parties to refrain from any escalation of the situation, especially at a time preparations are being made to engage in the peace negotiations in Sirte, Libya," Mezni said.
Al Sahafa reported that senior government officials, including the interior and defense ministers and the national intelligence chief, were in the region to try resolve the situation.