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UN mission in Sudan taking effort to have abducted Russians released

The two Russians, employed by a U.N.-chartered air company, had been kidnapped on January 29

PRETORIA, February 2. /TASS/. The United Nations mission in Sudan /UNMIS/ is working in collaboration with the Sudanese authorities to have two Russian nationals abducted in Darfur released, UNMIS Spokesperson Ashraf Eissa told TASS on Monday.

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Russian embassy in Sudan confirms abduction of two Russians in Darfur on January 29

He said the two Russians, employed by a U.N.-chartered air company, had been "seized by unknown armed men" on January 29. He said he knew no further details. The names of the two men were yet unknown either.

"We are closely working to secure their release and safe return," he said.

Russia’s embassy in Sudan has confirmed information about the abduction of two Russians. Artur Safukov, a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Khartoum told TASS that the incident had taken place on January 29 in Sudan’s Central Darfur state. "The Russian embassy in coordination with the authorities and the United Nations mission is taking effort to release our citizens," he said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretariat refrains from commenting this incident. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, told TASS the U.N. was aware of the incident but preferred to refrain from comment in the interests of the soonest release of the kidnapped men.

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