Sudan says four aid workers still being held

Khartoum: Four aid workers kidnapped in Sudan's Darfur region are still being held, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official said on Saturday.

Armed men seized a Canadian nurse, an Italian doctor, a French coordinator and a Sudanese national from their Medecins sans Frontieres base in north Darfur on Wednesday.

"They are still not released, the government is making its utmost efforts and is coordinating with the concerned authorities," said Ali Youssef Ahmad, head of protocol at Sudan's Foreign Ministry.

"I can assure you that they are well, everybody is safe and sound," he said, adding there were still hopes the captives would be freed later on Saturday.