Sudanese authorities arrest Darfur activists

KHARTOUM, Aug 07, 2004 (dpa) — Sudanese activists critical of the situation in Darfur were arrested Saturday on unspecified charges, activist group Popular National Council (PNC) said.

The arrests happened ahead of a PNC press conference to announce the group’s strategy for resolving the ongoing humanitarian and security situation in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Four members of PNC executive office and another 72 members of the organization were arrested just minutes before the conference began by unidentified security personnel.

PNC is an umbrella comprising different Sudanese opposition parties, civil rights organizations and independent figures.

The group is calling on President Omer Hassan al-Bahsir to step down from office after his government failed to come up with a suitable formula to resolve the crisis in Darfur.