Gunmen attacked and burned governor's residence in Sudan's Darfur

Gunmen attacked and burned the residence of the governor of Sudan's East Darfur state on Monday evening after violent tribal clashes in the area, witnesses said.

Up to 20 fighters were killed the day before in clashes between the Arab Rizeigat and Maaliya tribes in East Darfur.

Unidentified armed men entered the state capital Ed Daein "and headed to the governor's residence and opened fire with various weapons and the guards riposted, after which the residence caught fire," one witness in the town told AFP by phone on condition of anonymity.

Another witness said the governor's residence had been attacked by unidentified gunmen in pickup trucks.

"I saw five Land Cruisers carrying armed men open fire on the governor's house and setting it alight," the source said, without giving their name.

Both sources said a number of people were killed but it was not possible to verify this as authorities could not be reached for comment.

It is thought the governor of East Darfur, Anas Omar, was not present during the attack.

While it was unclear who was responsible, a third resident of Ed Daein said the assault was launched by fighters from the Rizeigat tribe, who were involved in the bloody clashes on Sunday.

"After members of the Rizeigat tribe arrived from the town of Nyala and saw the wounded and killed from the clashes they were very angry and headed towards the house of the governor and opened fire," they said, requesting anonymity.

Longstanding tensions between the Rizeigat and Maaliya flared again on Sunday, with clashes erupting between the two groups in East Darfur, apparently over a cattle theft.