GENEVA (AFP) - Sixty people were killed and more than 16,000 displaced in tribal violence over fishing and farming rights in north-western Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN refugee agency said Friday.

"In total 60 people have been killed, and the deadly clashes spread to surrounding villages, several of which were burned. Forty other people were seriously injured," said Andrej Mahecic, spokesman for the UNHCR.

"UNHCR is seriously concerned about the intensity of the violence and its spread to nearby villages, which have been virtually emptied of people," he added.

The fighting which broke out in November between the Enyele and Munzaya tribes in DR Congo's Equateur province sent 16,100 people fleeing to the neighbouring Republic of Congo, said Mahecic.

The asylum seekers are now staying in public buildings or with host communities across 11 villages on the Republic of Congo's side of the Oubangui river.

The first clashes between the two tribes broke out in March and prompted 1,200 people to seek shelter in the Republic of Congo.

This violence is unrelated to ongoing fighting in eastern DR Congo, which has displaced 1.7 million people.