At Least 48 Killed as Peru Tribes Clash

A battle between two jungle tribes armed with arrows, spears, machetes and poison darts in central Peru has left at least 48 people dead, authorities said.

The battle, involving at least 1,000 members of the Ashaminka tribe and 200 members of the Campos tribe, took place early in the week near the Andean jungle town of Satipo, 160 miles east of Lima, Gov. Andres Galarza Flores of the Junin Department said.

Witnesses said as many as 200 people died in the battle, with most of the bodies thrown into the Perene River, Galarza said.

Police investigating the battle found only three bodies but confirmed that 48 people had died, Galarza said.

Reports of the battle were delayed because there are no phones in the area and transportation is slow, Galarza said. The two tribes are longtime rivals and have had earlier confrontations over rights to grow coffee and coca in the area, he said.