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13 UN workers held by S. Sudan rebels released: UNMISS

Xinhua, November 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thirteen United Nations workers, who were held by rebels in South Sudan a week ago, have been released, according to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

This was the second and last batch of UN personnel to be freed from captivity by SPLA -in-Opposition, which seized them on Oct. 26 on board a barge convoy transporting fuel to UNMISS' base in Renk, Upper Nile State.

"UNMISS successfully carried out an extraction operation on Sunday..., safely securing the release of 13 UNMISS contractors," it said in a statement late Sunday.

The first group of 18 UN personnel were released on Oct. 29.

The convoy's equipment, a total of three vessels including the barge, which were confiscated by the rebels, have also been returned and are on their way to Melut, Upper Nile State, the UNMISS statement said.

In the statement, the special representative of the UN secretary general, Ellen Loej, voiced relief over the release of the UN personnel, urging all parties to allow free movement for UN personnel.

"A similar incident should not, and hopefully, will not happen again," she noted. Endit