2 Turkish nationals kidnapped in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Two Turkish engineers were kidnapped in Sudan’s western Darfur province, a local official said on Wednesday.

“We regret the kidnapping of Turks working for serving Darfur in front of the eyes of security agencies,” Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi said on Twitter.

Minawi said efforts were underway to locate the abducted people, calling on the kidnappers to safely return them.

Diplomatic sources told Anadolu Agency that the two Turks are working for a Turkish electricity company in Darfur.

The Turkish engineers and their Sudanese driver were kidnapped on Tuesday as they were driving home in al-Fashir city in North Darfur, the sources said.

The Sudanese driver was later released after being beaten by the kidnappers, according to the sources.

The driver told authorities that the kidnappers did not ask for ransom and had no problems with Turks but would keep them as hostages “until the perpetrators of attacks on tribes are captured,” the sources said.

According to an Anadolu Agency reporter, Turkey's Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Khartoum are working with the Sudanese authorities to ensure the release of the kidnapped citizens.

On Tuesday, four people were killed and three others injured in an attack by unidentified gunmen near the Zam Zam refugee camp in al-Fashir city.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara