Russians kidnapped in Darfur as American released: UN
August 31st, 2010 - 12:38 am ICT by IANSNairobi/Khartoum, Aug 30 (DPA) Three Russian aircrew members have been kidnapped in Sudan’s restive Darfur province as an American woman held for months was released, the United Nations said Monday.
Earlier reports said that only two pilots had been seized, but the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said in a statement that three helicopter crew members were taken Sunday from the town of Nyala.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a pilot, co-pilot and engineer were all kidnapped.
Government-run news agency SUNA said the Russians were working for Sudan’s Badr Airlines.
UNAMID also said that a woman who worked for US charity Samaritan’s Purse had been handed over to the government in the same town after spending 105 days in captivity.
Media reports said no ransom was paid for her release.
Kidnappings of foreigners for ransom has risen in Darfur since the International Criminal Court early last year issued an arrest warrant against President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes in the province.
Aid workers and peacekeepers are the chief targets.
Two Jordanian peacekeepers were abducted earlier this month and released after a few days.
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- Al Arabiya: Jordanian U.N. peacekeepers abducted in South Darfur released - Aug 17, 2010
- Three UN peacekeepers killed in Darfur - Dec 06, 2009
- Three peacekeepers killed in Sudan's Darfur - Oct 11, 2011
- Abducted Bulgarian pilots released in Sudan - Jun 07, 2011
- CARE International worker killed in South Darfur - Jan 09, 2011
- German aid workers freed in Darfur - Jul 28, 2010
- UN peacekeeping force in Darfur denies hijacking of Russian helicopter - Jul 28, 2010
- Dozens killed in Sudan refugee camp - Aug 26, 2008
- UN reports surge in Darfur fighting, high fatalities - Jun 15, 2010
- Hundreds killed in Sudan nomadic clashes - May 29, 2009
- Sudan election results delayed - Apr 21, 2010
- 48 killed in Sudan violence - Jun 20, 2010
- Heavy rain collapses buildings in Darfur, killing 20 soldiers - Aug 03, 2011
Tags: aid workers, aircrew members, american woman, arrest warrant against, badr, co pilot, crew members, darfur, helicopter crew, international criminal court, khartoum, kidnappings, nyala, omar al bashir, peacekeepers, peacekeeping mission, run news, suna, unamid, war crimes