SUDAN: Ceasefire monitors and aid agencies say armed clashes are continuing in Sudan's western region of Darfur, despite a peace agreement signed almost two weeks ago. African Union (AU) observers reported Janjaweed attacks on at least two villages in the north of the region, close to the town of Kutum.
"The information is hard to verify, but it seems the attacks occurred around a village called Korgat," said Abdourahman Ahmed, the AU's chief political officer for Sudan.
Officials are investigating local reports that several people had died in the violence.
A separate raid by an unidentified armed militia occurred on Sunday in a village southwest of Gereida in southern Darfur, according to a statement issued by the United Nations.
Rioting was also reported in several of the region's sprawling aid camps, home to hundreds of thousands of people who have fled violence in the past three years. Sudan's government is accused of unleashing the Janjaweed on farming villages in Darfur after rebels launched a campaign for greater autonomy.
The conflict has claimed more than 200,000 lives.
Peace talks in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, achieved something of a breakthrough earlier this month when the largest rebel faction and the government of Sudan agreed peace terms.
In time the deal is expected to allow the deployment of UN peacekeepers, while Khartoum agreed to disarm its Janjaweed allies. However, critics point out that without the co-operation of two other rebel groupings and the Janjaweed militias themselves, the deal was unlikely to deliver peace.
Yesterday, aid agencies said the violence was preventing them reaching people in need despite promises from the Khartoum government to improve access.
"Cars are being stopped, stuff looted, and certain areas are not accessible because of such incidents," said Andrea Koenig, Red Cross spokeswoman in Khartoum.
"And it is not only the [ Red Cross] that is affected, but many other humanitarian agencies."
Recent clashes had occurred around Tawilla in the Jebelmara area of north Darfur, she added.
Meanwhile, the talks in Abuja continue after the AU warned rejectionist rebel leaders they would face sanctions if they failed to sign the agreement.
However, Abdelwahid El Nur said his Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction would not respond to threats.
Instead, he wants greater compensation for victims of the war and greater political power for SLA officials.