Freed ICRC aid worker in Darfur arrives in Khartoum

Hours after his release, Gauthier Lefevre, a French staff member of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), who was abducted in Sudan's western region of Darfur in October, arrived in Khartoum Thursday.

Talking to reporters upon arrival at the Khartoum airport, Lefevre thanked the Sudanese authorities and the ICRC over the efforts they made to secure his release.

In the meantime, the Sudanese authorities on Thursday announced that they have arrested two of Lefevre's kidnappers.

"A security force managed to arrest two kidnappers after freeing the hostage", Abu Qroun Ahmed al-Tayeb Abu Qroun, security chief of West Darfur State, told reporters at Khartoum airport Thursday.

He said the force has managed to arrest the two kidnappers at Kebkabiya, North Darfur State, after they fled with the hostage from West Darfur.

"Those who were arrested will be presented to trial as soon as possible", he added.

He further explained that the release of the hostage was delayed because the kidnappers demanded a ransom, saying that "the Sudanese government has earlier affirmed that it would not pay a ransom for the group so as not to open the door for other groups to carry out such an act".

The ICRC on Thursday announced that its member staff Gauthier Lefevre, who was abducted in Sudan's western region of Darfur in October, was freed.

Lefevre was abducted north of Al Geneina on Oct. 22 when he was returning to the town with other ICRC staff from a field trip.

Source:Xinhua