Sudanese Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamad says that at least 244 people have been killed in clashes between two Arab tribes in southern Sudan this week.

The victims include 75 police officers. Last weekend, fighting broke out between the Misseriya and the Rizeqat tribes on the border of the regions of Darfur and South Kordofan.

The police intervened on Tuesday, but was attacked by around 3,000 mounted tribesmen. The reason for the clashes is not known, but in the past the two tribes have repeatedly clashed over the scarce drinking water for their herds.