Russian Embassy Looks for Pilot Who Disappeared in Sudan

The Russian embassy in Sudan is continuing to search for a pilot who disappeared after a Russian helicopter was allegedly hijacked in Darfur, an embassy official said on Thursday.

"There is no news. We are tripling our efforts... But I can't say anything definitive now," Russian charge d'affaires Yury Vidakas said, according to Russia news agency RIA Novosti.

The helicopter was carrying three rebel commanders from Darfur to Chad, from where they were to fly to Qatar for talks with Sudanese government officials.

The helicopter was seized when it made a stopover in a mostly Arab tribal area of western Sudan, Sydney Morning Herald reports.