2 Turkish nationals kidnapped in Darfur, Sudan rescued in operation

By Omer Erdem

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - Two Turkish citizens who were abducted earlier this week in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region were rescued through an operation conducted Thursday, an official said.

The Turkish ambassador to the North African country, Irfan Neziroglu, told Anadolu Agency that Firat Can Baran and Omer Cunedioglu, who work at a power plant in the city of al-Fashir in North Darfur state, were rescued by Sudanese security forces.

Neziroglu said Baran, who is an engineer, and Cunedioglu, an administrative staff member, were abducted Tuesday as they were returning home from work along with their Sudanese taxi driver by unknown gunmen.

The driver was reportedly taken to another location and beaten by the gunmen but was later released.

Thanking Sudanese officials for their efforts and cooperation in the rescue operation, Neziroglu reported that the two men were good in health and were welcomed at a military facility in Kabkabiya district and will be brought to the capital Khartoum in the morning.

*Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara