Armed men detain South Darfur officials in refugee camp

Dec 31, 2006 (NYALA) — Armed men detained South Darfur officials who were visiting a displaced camp here. The armed elements said belonging to a Darfur rebel group, the state-run SUNA reported.

A delegation of the government of South Darfur State headed by acting Chairman of the state’s Legislative Council, Omar Adam Khatir, was Sunday subjected to a detention for two hours by a group of armed men at Draij camp in Nyala in South Darfur.

The delegation was on a visit to congratulate the displaced at the camp on Eid Al-Adha.

The armed group has detained the state’s officials and taken them to offices belonging to the group inside the IDPs camp. A prolonged discussion was conducted between the two parties on the objective the state’s officials to the camp, SUNA said.

The armed elements told the delegation that they belong to Sudan Liberation Movement, without determining to which faction.

After their release, the state’s delegation members continued their visit to the displaced people camp.

There are around 2.5 internally displaced persons in the different camps in darfur since the eruption of the fighting in 2003. Sudanese authorities are accused of hindering the aid workers activities and supporting a militia that spreading terror outside the camps.

(ST)