Kidnapped Irish aid worker allowed to phone mother

The Irish Aid worker being held hostage in Sudan has been allowed to make a phone call to her mother in Ireland.

Sharon Commins was allowed to phone her mother yesterday for the first time in several weeks.

The 32-year-old, from Clontarf in Dublin, was abducted from a GOAL compound in Darfur more than two months ago along with a Ugandan colleague.

Sudanese officials are said to be heartened that the kidnappers responded to a request for a phone call between Ms Commins and her mother.

The Irish and Sudanese authorities are still negotiating with the kidnappers in an effort to secure the release of the pair.