14 killed in Sudan riot

Police clashed with rioting tribesmen today in the coastal city of Port Sudan, leaving at least 14 people dead and 16 injured, a government official said.

Riots involving Beja tribesmen broke out early this morning in Port Sudan, 425 miles northeast of the capital of Khartoum, Red Sea governor General Hatim Al Wasilah said. The area is underdeveloped and poor and the rioting appeared to be economically motivated.

The casualties occurred when police tried to stop widespread looting and vandalism, said Wasilah. He was not specific but said the situation was under control.

Wasilah said the Beja tribesmen on Friday had submitted demands for the “fair distribution of wealth and power” to the government and that officials had assured them their demands would be met.

Tribesmen in return promised not to riot, he said.

“However, early Saturday morning riots started and a group led the crowd looting and sabotage of private property, and we have to deal with them to restore order and calm,” said Wasilah.

The official Sudanese News Agency reported a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in the area for Saturday and Sunday nights.

Violence involving Beja tribesmen, the main ethnic group in eastern Sudan, had broken out Friday as well, Wasilah said. There were no reports on casualties from those incidents.

The Beja area of Port Sudan is one of the least developed areas in the country. Poverty-related illness, including tuberculosis, are common and illiteracy is a major problem.