Rebels release UN employees in Darfour

Darfour rebels yesterday morning released 16 of the employees of the UN who were kidnapped on Saturday. A UN source said that the hostages, 13 Sudanese and three foreigners from Ireland, Malawi and Bosnia were released in an area near al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfour province.

He explained that the UN made contacts via telephone with Arko Menawi the secretary general of the Sudan's liberation army -- one of the two main rebel groups-- in which he had notified that the army held the employees to protect them after they had lost their way inside an area they are controlling.

Menawi also said that the army suspected that one of the Sudanese employees might work for the Sudanese government.

On the other hand, the Sudanese media service center, which is close to the government stressed that three civilians were killed in attacks carried out by the rebels yesterday in Darfour. A report by the center said that the "justice and equality movement" violated the cease fire agreement signed by the Sudanese authorities in April.