Sudan tries to contact kidnappers of Darfur aid workers

Sudanese authorities were trying yesterday to establish contact with kidnappers who snatched two foreign aid workers from their offices in Darfur, a foreign ministry official said.

Gunmen kidnapped the Irish and Ugandan women from the office of the Irish aid group Goal in the north Darfur city of Kutum last Friday night. A Sudanese watchman was also seized but later released.

"We have not established contact yet," said Ali Yusef, director of protocol at the foreign ministry. "Normally in this situation they move away from the scene" before making contact.

Flora Hillis, the head of Goal in Sudan, confirmed the relief group had not yet been contacted about the abduction.

She identified the Irish hostage as Sharon Commins and the Ugandan as Hilda Kawuki, and said the group had put its aid activities on hold to focus on freeing the hostages.

Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamad said the authorities were hoping to free the hostages soon but provided no details.

Friday's kidnapping was the third of foreign aid workers since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on March 4 for Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Following the arrest warrant, Sudan expelled 13 foreign non-governmental organisations from Darfur - a decision vehemently criticised by the United Nations. Khartoum later allowed Western aid bodies in once again.

The UN says up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled since the conflict erupted in February 2003.