Set free

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A DRAMATIC ordeal of a hijacked Sudanese private airliner, belonging to Sun Air, ended in Libya yesterday with the release of its 95 passengers and crew and the surrender of the hijackers who sought political asylum in France. The hostages on the plane, a Boeing 737, that took off from Nyala airport in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region were released on Wednesday following hours of negotiations with Libya's Civil Aviation Authority. Later the hijackers surrendered themselves to the Libyan authorities.

Crew members who were not initially allowed off the plane were also set free. The hijacked plane was flown to Libya's Sahara desert oasis of Kufra airport because it was refused landing permission in Egypt and had not enough fuel to fly to Paris. The hijackers hoped to be granted political asylum in France and demanded maps to fly to Paris. According to the Libyan authorities, the 10 hijackers belonged to a faction of the Darfur armed opposition group, the Sudan Liberation Army.

photo: AP