ABDUCTED DARFUR AID WORKERS FREED

Two aid workers who were kidnapped in Sudan’s Darfur region more than three months ago have said they are “thrilled” to be released.

Irish citizen Sharon Commins, 32, and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kawuki, 42, were working for the Irish charity Goal when seized by gunmen in Kutum in July.

The Sudanese government confirmed the pair were freed early Sunday morning.

The women described their ordeal as a “difficult time” and thanked all those who had worked to secure their release.

In a joint statement released through the GOAL charity, the women said they were “naturally thrilled to be released after such a long period in captivity”.

“We know it must have been a traumatic period for our families especially and for our friends,” they said.

“It was of course, a difficult time – but we found strength in each other and in our friendship.”

They added that they could “hardly wait to get home” to spend time with their families.

Sudan’s state Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Abdel Baqi al-Jailani, stressed that “no ransom was paid,” and said local tribe leaders had put pressure on the kidnappers to release the workers.

Reports earlier in the year had suggested the kidnappers made a $2m ransom demand in return for their safe release.

The Sudanese government said the kidnappers were bandits who would not be granted an amnesty for releasing the aid workers, the BBC’s James Copnall in Khartoum said.

The two women have spent the longest time in captivity of any foreigners in Darfur, our correspondent added.

They were taken hostage at gunpoint at an aid compound in Kutum on 3 July.

Speaking in Dublin, Ms Commin’s mother Agatha said she was “absolutely overjoyed” at the news of her daughter’s release.

SOURCED FROM BBC

US CONDEMNS DARFUR AID GROUPS SUSPENSION

The United States on Friday slammed as “reckless” and “callous” Khartoum’s decision to expel more than a dozen aid groups, saying it put millions of people’s lives at risk in Sudan’s western Darfur region.

“The United States is gravely concerned by the reckless decision of the Sudanese government to expel international aid groups working to ease the suffering of Sudan’s citizens,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told reporters.

“The humanitarian situation in the country is already dire and this callous step threatens the lives of innocents already suffering from years of war and upheaval,” she said in a conference call.

The move by Sudan came after the International Criminal Court charged President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with war crimes in Darfur. Khartoum ordered 13 high-profile aid agencies out of Darfur, including Oxfam and Save the Children, accusing them of passing evidence to the court.

Rice spoke shortly before the U.N. Security Council held closed-door discussions on Sudan. Diplomats said council members could not agree on a statement because of differences over whether it should mention the ICC arrest warrant.

“Millions of civilians, including untold thousands of children and elderly people, will be left even more vulnerable to starvation, disease, despair and death if the government of Sudan does not immediately change course,” Rice said.

“The government of Sudan at its own choosing is now heading down a path towards even greater international isolation.”

SOURCED FROM REUTERS