ICRC Workers Abducted In Sudan, Chad

From a press release by the I.C.R.C....

Two ICRC staff members were abducted in the past weeks: Gauthier Lefèvre was abducted in West Darfur, Sudan, on 22 October, and Laurent Maurice was abducted in eastern Chad on 9 November. The ICRC's head of operations for East Africa, Daniel Duvillard, speaks about how the organization is dealing with these crises.

What is the latest information you have on Gauthier and Laurent?

We have managed to have phone contacts with the abductors of both of our staff. We also managed to speak directly with Gauthier and Laurent. They both say that they are in good health. That is already reassuring under the circumstances. At this point we do not know if there is a link between the two incidents, but we are obviously shocked and very sad. We appreciate how difficult the situation is for Gauthier's and Laurent's families and friends. We are in regular contact with them, and we are doing everything we can to give them the support they need.

Who is behind the abductions? Have there been ransom demands?

We don't know exactly who is behind the abductions or what their motives are, and we don't want to speculate. We did receive a ransom demand for Gauthier but, as a matter of policy, the ICRC does not pay out ransom money. The ICRC will continue to do its best through its regular channels of communication to bring about Gauthier's and Laurent's release.

The A.F.P. wrote a story based on the release.

GENEVA — The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of two agency staff kidnapped in recent weeks in Sudan and neighbouring Chad.

Carter Center Criticizes Sudan Over Election

From the AP...

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Permit delays, lack of funds and security intimidation are obstructing international and local observers from monitoring registration for Sudan's first ever nationwide elections, former President Jimmy Carter's foundation said on Tuesday.

These and other hindrances could diminish the ability of the center — the only international group Sudan invited to monitor the process — to verify the vote's fairness, the group said.

Sudan is holding its first parliamentary and presidential elections in all regions of the war-torn country next April. The elections are a key part of the 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of north-south civil war. Two million people died in the war, which devastated the country's oil-rich south.

Authorities have asked the Atlanta-based center to monitor the balloting, for which voter registration started Sunday.

"These elections are supposed to represent a new event in Sudan's history," said Aly Verjee, a Carter Center spokesman.

The A.F.P. has a much more concise lead...

KHARTOUM — The US-based Carter Centre, which has been charged with monitoring preparations for Sudanese elections next April, criticised the Khartoum authorities on Tuesday for impeding poll observers.