Uganda releases some 72 Sudanese prisoners

Uganda on Monday released 72 Sudanese prisoners who were arrested during two years of wars in the northern part of the country. This was in the course of implementing the agreement which was signed in December 1999 between the two countries to end activities carried out by rebels along their joint borders.

Ugandan Minister of Regional Affairs Amamah Mbabazi told reporters, "We have implemented our part of the agreement and released the prisoners of war, and we expect the Sudanese side to implement the agreement like what we have done."

He added he will head for the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to evaluate the implementation of the agreement, adding that a follow-up meeting will be held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on January 19.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources view this initiative by Uganda as a sort of pressure on Sudan to implement the Nairobi agreement.

The 72 Sudanese prisoners, who were released from the military police prison center in one of Kampala's outskirts, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

This is the second shift of Sudanese prisoners out of 124 who were arrested in July 1997. The first shift of 42 prisoners was released in September 1998.