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| Africa Horn |
| Sudan: Kidnappers demand Bashir arrest warrant be dropped |
| 2009-03-14 |
| (AKI - The kidnappers of three workers from the international aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) abducted in Sudan's Darfur region have demanded the international arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir be withdrawn in exchange for the hostages' release, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reports, citing unnamed local sources. The MSF workers' kidnappers have also asked for a ransom and belong to an armed Arab tribe, according to al-Hayat. The kidnappers made their their demands by phone via Sudanese mediators who are negotiating for the hostages' release. The mediators include tribal leaders in Darfur, according to al-Hayat. An Italian doctor, a Canadian nurse and a French co-ordinator with MSF were kidnapped in the area of Serif Umra, located in North Darfur late Wednesday. "As a result of the abductions, all sections of MSF are withdrawing almost all international staff from projects in Darfur. Only an essential skeleton team will remain to follow the case of the abducted MSF colleagues. A number of Sudanese staff will also be relocated for now," the aid group said in a statement on Thursday. The Hague-based International Criminal Court last week issued an arrest warrant for al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur (photo), sparking outrage in Sudan and the Arab world. Al-Bashir, the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the court, faces five counts of crimes against humanity, including responsibility for murder, rape and torture, and two counts of war crimes. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Announce he's been released, but hold him at the door, when/if they release the hostages clap him back in the pen. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-03-14 12:16 |
| #1 were the kidnappers perhaps wearing uniforms? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-03-14 06:46 |