Violence flares in Darfur; 221 killed in June

Violence has spiked in the arid western territory since the insurgent Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) suspended its participation in negotiations in Qatar in early May.

The fighting, which first surged in 2003 when mostly non- Arab rebels took up arms demanding more autonomy, has persisted in the face of a series of failed ceasefires and diplomatic pressure from Washington and other powers.