Darfur rebels free UN captives

[Dover]

Sunday 06 June 2004, 13:33 Makka Time, 10:33 GMT

Rebels from Sudan's conflict-torn Darfur region released 16 UN and other aid workers on Sunday, a day after they had been taken captive, a UN statement said.

"We are relieved to report that the 16 humanitarian aid workers, who had been detained by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), were released today," said the statement released in Khartoum.

The SLA has said it took the workers for their own protection because they had wandered into rebel-held territory.

"The group includes workers from UN agencies, non-governmental organisatons, and donors," the statement said.

At least 10,000 people are believed to have died and an estimated one million people have fled the impoverished region following attacks by government troops and the militias, with more than 100,000 of them taking refuge in neighbouring Chad, according to UN figures.... >

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5DF42236-72C0-4B0C-91AB-FC6FC2BCE1A0.htm