Sudan's communal violence sparks fears of escalating conflict.

Dozens of civilians have died in fighting in southern Sudan and communal violence in the Darfur region, raising fears that communities across the country are being drawn into the conflict between two rival generals. The fighting in the southern state of North Kordofan has centred on the strategically important state capital, El Obeid, while in Darfur, there is growing evidence that the rivalry between the two factions battling for control of Khartoum is aligning with deep social, economic and ethnic divides. The nationwide death toll of more than four weeks of fighting stands at 700, though the true figure is almost certainly much higher.