New York: The Sudanese Government has said that the conflict in the country's Darfur region was not genocide but a tribal conflict.

"There is no reality to the claims that the conflict is genocide as US President George Bush and ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell have said," Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir told 'Time' magazine in an interview.

He said the members of the Janjaweed Militia, who are accused of killing nearly 70,000 black Africans, are merely "outlaws and gangsters" who are used to being on horseback and wielding arms or guns.

"The Janjaweed are merely bandits. This rebel group that tried to avenge the losses against another tribe started it and naturally when one tribe attacks another, there will be losses," he said.

According to UN estimates, apart from the loss of lives, around 1.8 million people have been rendered homeless due to the conflict in the African nation.

The trouble is said to have started when two African groups revolted against Khartoum for being discriminated against and the Government used Janjaweed militia to put down the revolt. The Sudanese Government denies the allegation.