McAleese expresses concern over kidnapped aid worker

The President Mary McAleese has expressed deep concern for a 32-year-old aid worker from Dublin who has been kidnapped in Sudan.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it's actively pursuing the case of Sharon Commins and the Irish Ambassador in Cairo is travelling to Sudan.

An armed group of six men kidnapped three people from their compound in the north Darfur town of Kutum last night.

A Sudanese guard was later released but Ms Commins and a 42-year-old Ugandan woman are still missing.

They were working for the Irish charity GOAL.

GOAL chief executive John O'Shea said attacks on foreign aid staff have become more regular in Sudan.