Darfur rebels release three Sudanese soldiers: Red Cross

January 5, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A Darfur rebel faction, Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice (SLMJ) has released three Sudanese soldiers as they are handed over to the Sudanese authorities by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday.

“The three men were taken by helicopter to Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, where they were placed in the care of the Sudanese authorities”, the ICRC said in a statement released in Khartoum.

“This is the first such operation this year”, said Maurice Grundbacher, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Al-Fashir, who led the three-member ICRC team facilitating the transfer.

Last month the same rebel group which is led by Ali Karbino released 4 Sudanese soldiers who had been transferred to the Sudanese army on 4 December.

During the past year the ICRC facilitated the release of 80 people, including South Sudanese prisoners of war released by the Sudanese authorities, and members of the Sudan Armed Forces and civilians released by rebel groups.

(ST)