KHARTOUM, Sudan
Sudanese authorities Tuesday rescued 29 hostages from a human trafficking gang in eastern Kasala province, said Sudan's news agency, SUNA.
Among the hostages are eight girls, and a heavy exchange of fire took place with the gang members, which left one of the security members injured.
"Three members of the gang have been arrested,” the agency quoted security officer Abdulldafi Abdulkarim as saying.
Sudan is deemed as a transit and source of illegal immigrants, mostly from the Horn of Africa countries. To combat human trafficking, the Sudanese parliament in 2014 approved a law introducing sanctions that include up to 20 years in prison and death penalty.
*Reporting by Adel Abdul Rahim; Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg