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| British hostage Patrick Noonan freed in Sudan | British hostage Patrick Noonan freed in Sudan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A British hostage who was kidnapped in Sudan three months ago has been freed, the Foreign Office has said. | A British hostage who was kidnapped in Sudan three months ago has been freed, the Foreign Office has said. |
| Patrick Noonan had been working for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for two years as a logistician in Nyala. | Patrick Noonan had been working for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for two years as a logistician in Nyala. |
| Mr Noonan, 48, from Northen Ireland, was abducted by armed men on 6 March 2012 along with a Sudanese driver. | |
| A spokesman for the WFP said it was thankful for Mr Noonan's safe release and the aid worker was looking forward to seeing his family. | A spokesman for the WFP said it was thankful for Mr Noonan's safe release and the aid worker was looking forward to seeing his family. |
| Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham said: "I would like to thank the government of Sudan, and notably the governor of South Darfur for their commitment to securing Patrick's release. | Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham said: "I would like to thank the government of Sudan, and notably the governor of South Darfur for their commitment to securing Patrick's release. |
| "Patrick is now in the care of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan." | "Patrick is now in the care of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan." |
| He added: "Patrick's family and friends must be delighted, having endured the ordeal of his captivity with great strength and dignity." | He added: "Patrick's family and friends must be delighted, having endured the ordeal of his captivity with great strength and dignity." |
| Abduction warning | |
| The head of the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari, praised the efforts of the government in securing Mr Noonan's freedom. | The head of the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari, praised the efforts of the government in securing Mr Noonan's freedom. |
| He warned in the statement that the abduction of humanitarian workers was violation of international humanitarian law and the perpetrators must be found and prosecuted. | He warned in the statement that the abduction of humanitarian workers was violation of international humanitarian law and the perpetrators must be found and prosecuted. |
| In a statement the WFP said: "The situation in Darfur remains volatile and insecurity is an issue that impedes the work of the humanitarian community serving the region." | In a statement the WFP said: "The situation in Darfur remains volatile and insecurity is an issue that impedes the work of the humanitarian community serving the region." |
| It said 40 humanitarian workers have been abducted since 2009, including Mr Noonan and six air crew working with the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which is managed by WFP. |