AU commander held hostage

2005-10-09 16:59

Khartoum - A rebel group has taken hostage a commander of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force and a translator in Sudan's troubled North Darfur state, but 16 other members of their patrol were freed, an AU spokesperson said Sunday.

Noureddine Mezni told AFP that negotiations were underway for the release of the two who were being held in the western Sudanese town of Tina, near the border with Chad.

The kidnappers were believed to be members of a dissident faction of Darfur's rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), he said.

- AFP