International Red Cross committee resumes work in Sudan

The International Red Cross committee said it is planning to resume operations in Sudan following 18-months of suspension after two of its personnel were kidnapped.

Joso Ansilmo, spokesman for the committee who resides in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, said, "Khartoum said in January 1998 that the International Red Cross committee is an independent organization, and hence we approved to return back. Last week we received guarantees we need pertaining to security ensured form all sides involved in the conflict."

The Red Cross halted field work in Sudan at the end of 1996 after two rebels in Bahrel-Gazelle kidnapped two of its employees.

Meanwhile, Sudanese human rights activist Ghazi Suleiman said the Sudanese police fired tear gas bombs and used sticks to disperse some 5,000 Sudanese lawyers who tried to convene a conference in opposition to the new constitution project in the country.