Sudanese plane hijacked from Darfur to Libya

August 26, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Unknown number of hijackers kidnapped a plane belonging to a private company with 87 passengers heading to Khartoum from the capital of South Darfur state on Tuesday.

The kidnapped plane landed at the small military airport of Kufra in Libya near border with Egypt and Sudan. Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority said 95 passengers were on the Air Sun Boeing 737 plane.

But the number of hijacker is not clear.

The plane took off from Nyala at 4:40 pm (local time) and was bound for Khartoum. 20 minutes after the departure, the pilot informed the airport of southern Darfur of the hijacking of the plan telling them he was heading to Tripoli Libya.

The Boeing was carrying some members of the Darfur Transitional Authority in charge with the implementation of Darfur Peace Agreement from Minawi group.

The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority said intensive contacts are being held with the Libyan authorities on how to deal with the hijack issue.

Following reports that the plane was heading to Egypt but Cairo rejected to receive it, the Egyptian authorities said they had not been asked to receive the kidnapped plane.

The hijackers rejected Libyan requests that they release women and children on the flight and allow provisions onto the plane, refusing any negotiations and demanding the refueling, the official said.

Darfur rebel SLM denied the responsibility of the kidnapping saying it is an attempt from the government to divert attention from Kalama killing by government forces yesterday.

Sudanese troops attacked the immense camp of Kalma on Monday morning killing dozens of IDPs. The peacekeeping mission said today that they participated in the burial of 33 victims on Tuesday.

This hijacking is the second one conducted by Darfuri since the start of the conflict in 2003. In January 2007, a Sudanese from Darfur hijacked a plane taking off from Khartoum and forced the pilot at gunpoint to fly to neighboring Chad.

(ST)