Sudan POWs arrive in Khartoum

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Mar 28, 2005 (PANA) — As a follow-up to the peace pact signed in January to end the long-running conflict in South Sudan, the first batch of Prisoners of War (POWs) held by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement(SPLA/M) arrived in Khartoum Sunday.

The first group of military prisoners of war, who were held by SPLM, disembark from a plane when they arrived in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, March 26, 2005. (AP).

According to officials, the 76 from Sudan armed forces,
Mujahidin (religious fighters) and national service
elements, included a senior officer..

Mohamed Khanjar, POWs Committee Co-ordinator said in a
statement that some 160 POWs had been freed in Mujlad area,
about 650-km west of Khartoum.

The returning POWs were received by relatives, friends and
colleagues at the Khartoum airport Sunday, and others were due to arrive Monday, Khanjar said.

Khanjar said the POWs release followed negotiations between the Defence Ministry and the SPLA/M, which had been holding some of the prisoners since 1990.

He said the prisoners who arrived Sunday would be in camps for medical check-up before reunification with their families this week.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has denied any link with the release of the POWs by the SPLA/M.

“The organisation has no knowledge about the arrival of the first batch of POWs and has no link with arrangements for their transport to Khartoum,” Sayed Adil Sahrif, ICRC Country deputy director told a press conference in Khartoum Sunday.

However, he said, the Committee would ask for permission to meet the released POWs for registration with the ICRC as a technical procedure.