Sudanese Forces Chase, Kill Kidnappers of Europeans, But Hostages Still Held

Sudanese soldiers on Sunday encountered a vehicle in which eight of the group that kidnapped 11 Europeans and their Egyptian guides on September 19^th were riding and gave chase when it refused to halt as ordered. A gunfight resulted during which six of the eight were killed. The survivors told Sudanese soldiers that those taken hostage are being held in neighboring Chad by at least 35 gunmen. A second vehicle, a bus with Egyptian license plates, was seized by the Sudanese forces, who said it contained automatic weapons, ammunition and rocket propelled grenades. The defense ministry claimed to have found documents linking the gunmen to the Darfur-based Sudanese Liberation Army, but that group has denied responsibility. The fate of the Europeans is being negotiated by German intermediaries, but no progress has been reported.