Release sought of two abducted in Darfur

ZALINGEI, Sudan, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The head of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur, Sudan, says two staff members abducted Saturday in Darfur should be released immediately.

UNAMID head Rodolphe Adada said the gunmen who abducted the unidentified staff members, one male and one female, early Saturday morning in the West Darfur town of Zalingei should return them unarmed, a United Nations release said.

The peacekeeping mission in Darfur said four or five armed men took part in the abduction of the international civilian staff members.

UNAMID, which was established by the U.N. Security Council in 2007, is trying limiting violence in Darfur.

Since 2003, the ongoing conflict between rebel forces and government troops has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people.