Rebel Group Kidnaps 16 Relief Workers

A rebel group in Sudan's Darfur region has kidnapped 16 relief workers from international aid organizations, a government official said.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army seized the hostages Friday in Mellit, 30 miles north of Fasher, the regional capital, the official said.

The kidnapping comes just days after the government had relaxed restrictions on access of humanitarian aid organizations to Darfur. Three of the relief workers are foreigners, and the rest are Sudanese.