30 October 2008
The United Nations peacekeeping mission established at the end of the north-south civil war in Sudan today condemned the kidnapping and murder of four Chinese oil workers in the country's centre and called for the immediate release of all other hostages.
Media reports say nine workers were kidnapped in Southern Kordofan state on 18 October, and the bodies of four of the people abducted were found this week. Some hostages remain missing.
In a statement, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) offered its condolences to the bereaved families and called for the immediate release of the remaining hostages.
"UNMIS condemns the use of violence for political purposes and those responsible for this heinous act should be brought to justice," the statement said.
UNMIS was set up in 2005 to support the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), the accord earlier that year which ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan. It is separate to the hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping force in the Darfur (known as UNAMID) region in the west of the country.
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