Nairobi/Khartoum - The
United Nations appealed for calm Friday after clashes over Darfur's faltering
peace process claimed eight lives.
"Violence will only add to the people's suffering," Deputy Joint Special Representative Mohammed Yonis, of the peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID), said. "It is only through working together and talking to each other that we will bring peace to this land."
Thousands of internally displaced clashed on Thursday after disputes over participation in the Doha peace process turned violent.
UNAMID said sporadic shooting was heard as rival groups roamed through the Kalma camp in South Darfur. Many thousands had gathered around UNAMID's policing centre at the camp for protection, UNAMID said.
The Doha talks have been making very little progress, particularly given the absence of the two main rebel groups.
The UN estimates 300,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003, when mainly black mainly non-Arab tribesmen took up arms against what they called decades of neglect and discrimination by the Arab- dominated government in Khartoum.
