{{A rebel faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) detains a Russian helicopter and its crew in South Darfur since ten days, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday.}}
“On 3 August 2013, the helicopter of an African Union/United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) contractor, tasked with delivering supplies to various UNAMID locations in South Darfur, made an emergency landing due to severe weather conditions”, said UN deputy spokesperson Eduardo del Buey on Tuesday.
The Russian Mi-8 helicopter, landed at about 50 kilometres south-east of Nyala capital of South Darfur state where it captured by the rebels. According to TASS news agency, the crew-members include one Sudanese and two Ukrainians but there is no Russian among them.
While the UNAMID did not issue an official statement on the incident, del Buey announced that negotiations are under way “for the safe release of the crew”.
The rebel group also did not make any statement about the detention of the helicopter. But, one of its leading members said they are still verifying the identity of the chopper and its crew-members.
ST
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