SUDAN: U.S. journalist released from jail in Darfur

U.S. journalist Paul Salopek arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday (September 9) after being freed from jail in the Darfur region where he had been charged with espionage and publishing false information. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who had travelled to Sudan and held talks with President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, said on Friday (September 8) he had secured Salopek's release on humanitarian grounds. Salopek, a New Mexico resident, and his Chadian driver and translator were arrested last month after crossing the border into Darfur from Chad without a visa. In a news conference, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Salopek thanked all those who had worked on his behalf. He said he had been treated very well during his 35 days in jail. He added if granted a visa he would come back and report on Darfur. Salopek works for the Chicago Tribune but had been reporting in Darfur for National Geographic Magazine. He was due to depart for the United States with Richardson later on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million forced to flee to camps during 3-1/2 years of fighting in Darfur. Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms accusing the central government of marginalising the remote region that borders Chad. Human rights organisations have accused government forces and their Janjaweed militia allies of widespread rights abuses.

ITN Source | September 11, 2006

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