Darfur: international aid worker is accused of crimes against the state

A second international aid worker was arrested in Sudan’s conflict-ridden &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/accidents/21/93/394/13124_Sudan.html ' target=_blank>Darfur region today.

The arrest of Dutchman Vincent Hoedt followed that of his British colleague Paul Foreman yesterday.

Mr Foreman, 45, is head of mission for the international aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres in Sudan and Mr Hoedt is its regional coordinator in Darfur.

The two men have been accused of crimes against the state, publishing false reports, spying and undermining Sudanese society, MSF said.

It believes they were held because of a report MSF drew up detailing hundreds of alleged rapes by militiamen and soldiers in Darfur. Mr Foreman, who is originally from Carshalton in Surrey, was arrested in Khartoum and has been released on bail. Mr Hoedt was held in the western city of Nyala, tells the Scotsman.

The MSF Holland report said its doctors working in Sudan's western Darfur area, where tens of thousands have been killed and more than 2 million forced from their homes, had medical evidence of the rapes in the western Sudanese region.

Foreman said he had been taken to a police station and spoken to the authorities.

"I am under arrest but being released on bail," he said, adding he was in good health.

Farid said the arrest warrant had been issued after consultation with the governmental &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/cis/2002/01/10/25210.html ' target=_blank>Humanitarian Aid Commission. Under Sudanese law, he said MSF should have consulted the Commission before publishing any reports.

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