Charges against aid workers in Sudan still in force – Justice Ministry

KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 16, 2005 (AP) — No decision has been taken yet in the case of charges against two European aid workers who were arrested in Sudan, a senior Justice Ministry official was quoted by the official news agency as saying Thursday.

The two men working for Medecins Sans Frontieres were arrested after the international medical aid organization released a report alleging widespread rape in the troubled western province of Darfur, where an estimated 180,000 people have been killed in two years of conflict.

The Sudanese government denied the allegations, and charged the two workers with spreading false information.

Jan Pronk, a U.N. special representative, had said earlier in the week the charges were likely to be dropped soon.

However, an undersecretary at the Justice Ministry said consultations over the case of the two men were still underway.

“There are contacts and consultations and efforts are being exercised to halt these procedures,” Abdul Dayem Zumrawi, was quoted by the official agency, SUNA, as saying.

Pronk is involved in the mediation and Sudanese authorities are now studying the release request, SUNA said.

Zumrawi said “a decision might be taken any time,” but did not elaborate, according to SUNA.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said more than a week ago that an outline for resolving the issue had been reached, however there’s been no explanation for the delay.

The two workers, regional director Paul Foreman and Vincent Hoedt, have been free on assurances they would appear in court. Hoedt, who was in Darfur when the arrest warrant was issued on May 31, was due to return home to the Netherlands but was unable to leave until the court issue is settled.

MSF in Netherlands said Wednesday it has been waiting for news that the charges are dropped but hasn’t received any such information.

Human rights organizations have said the action against the MSF employees fits a pattern of attempted intimidation by the Sudanese against aid workers in Darfur.