Kidnappers want €1.4m for release of aid workers - Ban Ki-Moon visits Ireland

The emergence last week of news that the kidnappers of two female aid workers from Irish aid agency GOAL in North Darfur, were looking for a ransom was the first confirmation that officials were negotiating with the armed gang who seized the women -- the third such kidnapping of foreigners in the region in four months.

But last night Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs maintained a discreet silence, saying it had no comment to make on the latest ransom demand report.  GOAL chief John O'Shea said he had seen a "million reports" about the situation and had nothing to say about any of them. "I can't say anything," he added.

On July 07, 2009 UN chief Ban Ki-Moon met Government officials on a visit to Ireland.

The high-level team of diplomats and negotiators sent to Sudan to try and secure their release met the police and army officials in north Darfur, the region where the women were abducted at gunpoint.

Goal chief executive John O'Shea said: "I would image that if anybody knows who has done this, these officials are the most likely people to know."

Sources: Independent.ie by Fergus Black, Wednesday July 15 2009: Kidnappers want €1.4m for release of aid workers

Independent.ie by Fergus Black and Aine Kerr, Tuesday July 07 2009: UN chief joins efforts to find Darfur workers