Fighting in Darfur kills more than 40

NYALA, Sudan, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- More than 40 civilians have been killed in South Darfur as fighting in the Sudanese region has escalated, Human Rights Watch says.

The international rights group said a sudden increase in regional violence between pro-government Arab forces and rebels has wreaked havoc on the region's civilian population, the BBC reported Saturday.

In additional to the more than 40 civilian deaths attributed to the increased clashes, thousands of other civilians have been forced to flee their homes for their safety.

"Once again, civilians are bearing the brunt of fighting in Darfur," Human Rights Watch's African director, Georgette Gagnon, said of the violent outbreak in the region's Muhajiriya area.

The ongoing conflict in Darfur began in 2003 and has already claimed the lives of nearly 300,000 people, the BBC said.

The British broadcaster said the running total of those displaced by the regional violence during that time has exceeded 2 million.