Three killed in Sudan clash

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug 15, 2005 (UPI) — Three people have been killed and two others wounded in clashes between police and gunmen west of Khartoum, Sudanese officials said Monday.

Maj. Gen. Tarek Othman, the police chief in the province of Khartoum, said the clash occurred late Sunday in Omdurman when police tried to free hostages detained by the gunmen.

Police were alerted that gunmen were holding hostages to force their families to pay money they owed them.

Police raided the house, arresting 16 people inside, after a clash with the gunmen in which three of the alleged kidnappers were killed and two others wounded.