UN workers 'kidnapped' in Darfur

The UN warns of an impending humanitarian disaster in Darfur

About 16 UN aid workers have been kidnapped in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur, the state minister for foreign affairs has said.

Nejib al-Khari Abdel Wahab said contact had been made with their abductors and negotiations were under way.

There has been no confirmation by the UN, which is trying to tackle what it says is a looming humanitarian crisis.

About 10,000 people have died, and a million made homeless, in a conflict between rebels and Arab militias.

"The abduction of 16 of the workers and employees of the United Nations in Darfur took place five hours ago and the government is currently communicating with all sides," Mr Wahab told Reuters news agency by telephone from Khartoum on Saturday.

Conflict

The rebels - the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) - began attacking government targets early last year, claiming the government was oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.

The government mobilised Arab militia to fight the insurrection - but it has been accused by human rights groups of killing, looting and raping non-Arab residents of Darfur.

Meanwhile, the UN is set to launch an emergency humanitarian operation in Darfur, where it says a catastrophe is now unavoidable.

The US aid agency USAid has said some 300,000 displaced people will starve - even if aid is delivered immediately.