The death toll from recent inter-tribal clashes in Upper Egypt’s Aswan rose to 26 on Tuesday when one of the 56 injured died from severe burns sustained during the fighting, a health ministry official said.
The fighting first began on Wednesday between the Arab clan Bani Helal and a Nubian tribe, Daboudiya, over the harassment of a girl from one of the tribes and also offensive graffiti written on the wall of a school by students from the feuding families.
The main clashes unfolded between Friday and Saturday, when most of the casualties were reported.
It has not yet been determined who was responsible for starting the violence.
Police negotiated a truce with family heads and tribal leaders on Sunday that is planned to last for three days.
A tribal leader told Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website that the tribes are attempting to prolong the truce for one month as they try to reach an overall resolution.
The clashes stoked panic in the touristic city and left dozens of schools closed in the following days.
Several suspects have been arrested on suspicion of taking part in the armed confrontations.
Source : Ahram online
