UN peacekeepers captured in Darfur

A spokesman for the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur said an armed group has kidnapped two of its foreign civilian workers.

Noureddine Mezni said the two civilians were taken from their home today in Zalingei in West Darfur at about 4:30am.

Mr Mezni said that peacekeepers have made contact with the kidnappers and have appealed for the release of the two civilians.

He did not reveal the names or nationalities of the two civilians pending notification of their families.

Mr Mezni did not provide any details about the kidnappers, only referring to them as an “armed group”.