Seven civilians and five policemen were wounded during a clash at the largest refugee camp in the western Sudanese restive region of Darfur on Monday.
The clash took place when police forces were attempting to enter the Kalma Camp for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Niyala, the capital city of South Darfur State, to search illegal weapons hidden by rebels in the camp, according to a statement issued by the Security Committee of the South Darfur State.
Housing more than 50,000 people, the Kalma camp is the largest camp for the IDPs in Darfur where a five-year conflict has led to the killing of tens of thousands of civilians and displaced over one million.
The police forces took the action after issuing an order of search and notifying the hybrid peacekeeping troops of the United Nations and the African Union.
However, a number of civilians, apparently incited by rebel groups, gathered at the entries and the nearby roads to prevent the police forces from entering the camp, said the statement.
As the police forces approaching the camp, rebel members opened fire at them, wounding five policemen.
In response, the police forces fired "limited shots" at the militants, it said.
Less than seven civilians were also injured in the conflict, the statement noted.
Following the clash, the police forces have cordoned off the camp and get ready to enter it at any time.
Source:Xinhua
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