UN Worker Seized by Gunmen in South Sudan

Local Editor

Gunmen have seized a United Nations worker in war-torn South Sudan, the World Food Program said on Friday in a plea for his release.

WFP chief in South Sudan, Eddie Rowe, said in a statement, "We have not heard from our colleague for almost 24 hours, and we are extremely concerned about his well-being."

The UN worker, a South Sudanese national, was waiting in line for a flight from the northern town of Malakal on Thursday when he was "taken at gunpoint ... by eight armed men wearing plain clothes," WFP said.

"WFP demands that his captors release our staff member unharmed," Rowe added.

Aid workers have been targeted in the more than 10-month long war in Sudan. In August, gunmen killed at least six South Sudanese staff members of international aid agencies.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team