Pro-government militia releases hostages

A pro-government militia released seven internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Friday. The IDPs were abducted from Bir Degig IDP camp, in Sirba county West Darfur, last Wednesday. They were released after being held hostage for four days. The hostages were released after a delegation of local representatives promised to compensate the militia for the lost weapon. Abdou Abdel Karim, executive director of Sirba locality, told Radio Dabanga that the hostages were released on Friday around noon. Abdel Karim denies the death of one of the hostages from torture, noting that only seven IDPs were abducted, not eight. The local commissioner of Sirba, the military and security commander and native administration intervened to release the hostages. They described the abduction as illegal. One of the abducted IDPs told Radio Dabanga they were subjected to torture, beatings and humiliation.