Refugees killed in Sudan riots

Thousands have been displaced by the fighting in Darfur

At least three people have been killed in clashes between the police and refugees at a camp in Khartoum, Sudan.

A BBC correspondent says the clashes took place at a camp hosting people displaced by the fighting in Darfur.

Authorities in Sudan have forcefully relocated the 2,000 refugees to another camp following the skirmishes.

Dozens of students and politicians from Darfur who were supporting the refugees have been arrested in connection with the clashes.

Irate refugees

The BBC's Alfred Taban in Khartoum says the refugees were forced into lorries and relocated to Dar es Salaam camp about 30km from the capital.

Eyewitnesses say six people including two policemen were killed when the fighting broke out.

But a police statement says only three people were killed.

The clashes started after authorities started levying a $1 fee to people visiting relatives at the camp located at a local school in Mayo just outside the capital.

The irate refugees and their relatives burned down a local market and attacked a local police station.

"The police intervened to stop saboteurs and agitators, who it dispersed. But they regrouped and entered the camp in a manner that created chaos," said the police statement.

Some 600,000 people have fled and several thousand are believed to have died in the year-long fight between rebels and government forces in Darfur.