Officials in eastern Sudan say clashes between police and demonstrators have left at least 14 people dead. Witnesses say members of the Beja tribal group were marching to the governor's office in the eastern city of Port Sudan Saturday when the violence began.
Officials from the Beja tribe say security forces shot at the demonstrators. They put the death toll at 23.
Police say the protesters were looting and vandalizing buildings.
They have imposed a curfew on the town.
Earlier this week, Beja tribes people presented a list of demands to the local government, including a call for a fairer distribution of wealth and power in the region.
Their demands are similar to those that sparked separate violence in Sudan's western and southern regions. A southern peace deal was reached earlier this year, but violence continues in Darfur.