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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2011 - 7:24:29 AM |
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Sudanese govt trying to establish location of Russian helicopter
28.07.2010, 03.44
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UNITED NATIONS, July 28 (Itar-Tass) – Authorities in Sudan are holding talks with rebels to establish the location of a missing Russian helicopter pilot, Ibrahim Gambari, the joint special representative of the UN/African Union mixed mission in Darfur /UNAMID/ said Wednesday.
He indicated that another three Russian citizens and all the passengers of the helicopter, which was reported missing Monday, have been found alive and are safe and sound at the moment.
Gambari said the helicopter was performing a flight as part of servicing the UN/African Union joint mission in Darfur.
Traveling aboard were five high-rank representatives of an insurgent grouping. Their destination was Southern Darfur where they were going for talks with Sudanese government officials.
In all likelihood, the helicopter had to make an unscheduled landing somewhere because of bad weather conditions.
Gambari said earlier UN personnel in Sudan had established contacts with three of four crew members of the helicopter, adding that they are staying in the sector controlled by the Sudanese government.
Officials at the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the helicopter belonging to the YUTair airline had been seized in Darfur. It had an all-Russian four-strong wheels and it was carrying aboard five Sudanese passengers.
“The information available to us suggests there are no victims and the helicopter itself has not sustained any big damage.
YUTair is working in Sudan under a contract with the UN.
“Emergency measures are being taken to clear out the situation and to ensure that the Sudanese authorities manage to obtain release of Russian citizens from captivity,” the Foreign Ministry official said.
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