Many die in India ethnic clashes

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

At least 12 people have died in a clash between two rival rebel groups in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur.

The dead were fighters of the Kuki ethnic tribe who were killed in a gun battle with the Naga separatist insurgents, police said.

They said nearly 20 rebels of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) were travelling in two jeeps when they were ambushed.

Naga and the Kuki tribes fought a bitter fratricidal feud in the 1990s in which hundreds were killed.

The incident occurred late on Monday night when the Kukis were travelling towards Hundung village in Manipur's Ukhrul district, police said.

They were ambushed by the rebels of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

Police say they suspect some top leaders of the KLA may have been among those killed.

Earlier, the Kuki Liberation Army had hijacked two passenger jeeps near the Maphou dam and officials say the Naga ambush may have been to avenge that as Ukhrul is a Naga-predominant district.

The NSCN has been negotiating for a settlement with the Indian government for more than 10 years now but their leadership appears to be upset over the slow pace of talks .