International peacekeepers seized in Sudan's DarfurFebruary 20, 2012 - 20:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region said Monday, Feb 20, they have detained 49 international peacekeepers and three suspected Sudanese intelligence agents for "investigation" after they entered a rebel-held area. Sudan's military, citing the United Nations, said 58 members of the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission UNAMID were seized. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) captured the mostly Senegalese members of UNAMID on Sunday, said rebels' spokesman Gibril Adam Bilal, without specifying the location in the vast Darfur region of western Sudan. "They came to an area controlled by JEM without permission and without informing JEM," Bilal said. He said the rebels were holding them to probe why they entered rebel territory, "and to investigate the three Sudanese because we think they are members of Sudan's intelligence and security service". A UNAMID spokeswoman said "there is a situation ongoing" but could not immediately give details. The peacekeepers and their equipment were safe, said Bilal. Forty-six of them were from Senegal, including two officers, while there was one each from Yemen, Ghana and Rwanda, AFP reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |