Funny how it happens every time.  Funny how editors who are asked for citations always end up reverting to the tactic of attacking the policy, or the editor who asks, or the world in general.  Or all three.  At least in this case, a little work and research has turned up a number of references that now support the citation, and clearly classify the conflict as ethnic.  So now, there *is* a citation (at least one) that meets WP:V - I see no problem with stating this clearly in the article.     