In Brief

DARFUR DISCORD – A May deal that was supposed to help end the conflict in Darfur has instead sparked months of fighting between rival rebel factions, according to aid groups, the UN and beleaguered African Union peacekeepers.

Fresh clashes have left countless dead in the last two months and displaced nearly 50 000 people. This in a region where more than 2 million had already fled their homes and 1 million more rely on food aid.The May 5 peace accord signed in Nigeria was initially hailed as a breakthrough.TAMIL TERROR – Fifteen Tamil civilians working for a French aid agency were found slain in north-eastern Sri Lanka after fierce battles between rebels and the government in a dispute over water supplies, relief agency officials said yesterday.The violence was sparked July 20 when rebels halted the flow of a reservoir to nearby government-held villages, in what they said was retaliation for the government reneging on a deal to boost the water supply in rebel areas.The Tigers have fought for more than two decades to carve out a separate homeland for Sri Lanka’s 3,2 million minority Tamils.Nampa-AFP-Reuters-APThis in a region where more than 2 million had already fled their homes and 1 million more rely on food aid.The May 5 peace accord signed in Nigeria was initially hailed as a breakthrough.TAMIL TERROR – Fifteen Tamil civilians working for a French aid agency were found slain in north-eastern Sri Lanka after fierce battles between rebels and the government in a dispute over water supplies, relief agency officials said yesterday.The violence was sparked July 20 when rebels halted the flow of a reservoir to nearby government-held villages, in what they said was retaliation for the government reneging on a deal to boost the water supply in rebel areas.The Tigers have fought for more than two decades to carve out a separate homeland for Sri Lanka’s 3,2 million minority Tamils.Nampa-AFP-Reuters-AP