Saturday, November 7, 2009 Previous editions
Ireland’s ambassador in Cairo is on his way to Khartoum to help free two aid workers kidnapped in Darfur, officials confirmed today.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the envoy was urgently travelling to Sudan to seek the release of Irish woman Sharon Commins, 32, from Dublin, and Ugandan colleague, Hilda Kawuki. Ireland does not have an embassy in Sudan.
The victims worked for Goal, an Irish humanitarian aid group. They were taken hostage by around six armed men at a compound in the town of Kutum, northern Darfur, yesterday.
A Department spokeswoman said: “Ambassador Gerry Corr is on his way there as a matter of urgency to assist and to try to make sure that this ends as quickly as possible.”
It is the third kidnapping of foreign humanitarian workers since March.
A separatist battle has been raging there for years.
President Mary McAleese has expressed her deep concern.
“The President has conveyed to the Commins family her sincere hope that Sharon will be returned to safety as soon as possible, along with her colleague, Ms Hilda Kawuki,” a spokeswoman said.
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