Russia says missing pilot held by Sudanese militia

A Russian official says a Russian helicopter pilot who disappeared while working for the United Nations is being held by a militia loyal to the Sudanese government.

A Russian official says a Russian helicopter pilot who disappeared while working for the United Nations is being held by a militia loyal to the Sudanese government.

HT Image

The pilot was transporting rebel commanders for peace talks with the government when his helicopter landed in the wrong place on Monday in Sudan's volatile Darfur region.

The UN says the crew and passengers were taken to a government military camp, but until now the location of the pilot was unknown. Russia's special representative on Sudan, Mikhail Margelov, told the newspaper Kommersant that the pilot's life is not in danger.

Margelov is quoted on Thursday as saying the pilot is being held by the janjaweed militia, which is demanding that Sudan pay overdue back wages before it will release him.