Saturday, July 18, 2009

JEM frees 60 police officers, troops

Thanks to The New York Times for its daily links to Sudan Watch.  Here below is a copy of today's links from its page on Sudan. Note that 12 child soldiers are in desperate need of help.  If anyone has news of the children, please email me or leave a comment at Sudan Watch or contact Sudan Radio Service.

Also, here below is some good news from the Red Cross that JEM has freed 55 Sudan Armed Forces soldiers and five policemen.   Here's hoping that the Red Cross is in contact with the 12 children.

From The New York Times:

Headlines Around the Web

What's This?
SUDAN WATCH

JULY 16, 2009

S.O.S. to Sudanese President Al-Bashir, Red Cross Save the Children: 12 unpardoned Sudanese child soldiers being held in appalling conditions

THE SEATTLE TIMES

JULY 15, 2009

Fidelity holders reject 'genocide-free' proposal

MEMRI LATEST BLOGS

JULY 15, 2009

Ire In Sudan Over Obama's Statements On Darfur

FEMINISTING

JULY 14, 2009

What We Missed.

CBSNEWS.COM

JULY 14, 2009

Sudan Criticizes Obama For Calling Darfur Genocide

More at Blogrunner »
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JEM has freed 60 police officers, troops

The International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters on Saturday that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had handed over the captives to Red Cross officials. The freed hostages are now with the Sudanese authorities in Darfur.

"JEM has released 55 Sudan Armed Forces soldiers and five policemen," Reuters quoted Red Cross spokesman Saleh Dabbakeh as saying.

JEM fighters in Darfur, W. Sudan

File photo shows JEM fighters driving in an unknown location in Darfur. (Press TV)

Source: Press TV, Sat, 18 Jul 2009 - Darfur rebels free 60 police officers, troops
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UPDATE on Sunday 19 July 2009: See report by James Copnall, BBC News, Khartoum, 19:43 GMT, Saturday, 18 July 2009 20:43 UK - Darfur rebels free Sudan troops - excerpt:

They were released by the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) to the ICRC, and then handed over to the Sudanese authorities in Kutum, in North Darfur.

The handover is one of the biggest since the bitter conflict in Darfur began in 2003.

A spokesman for the group said most of the prisoners were taken in clashes between Jem troops and government forces in the north-east of Darfur earlier this year.

The spokesman said his movement had decided to release the men as a gesture of goodwill. He said Jem still holds lots of prisoners, but refused to say how many.

The Sudanese government was not immediately available for comment.

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