20100830
reuters

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A U.S. aid worker was released in Darfur on Monday after being held by her kidnappers for more than 100 days, a Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman said.

News of the release came a day after members of a Russian aircrew were kidnapped in Sudan's western Darfur region. Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday three crew had been taken, after earlier reports said only two had been seized.

Abductions are made mostly by young men from Arab tribes who demand ransoms. Khartoum has yet to prosecute any kidnappers and reports of ransoms being paid in the past have fuelled the crimes.

The freed woman was working for U.S. charity Samaritan's Purse in Darfur.

"She has been released this morning. She is in good health," Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Moawia Osman said.

Her kidnappers said they had released her to the South Darfur authorities without being paid a ransom.

"We have demands from the government like developing our areas -- we want hospitals, education -- if these demands are met these kidnappings will no longer happen," one of the kidnappers, Abu Mohamed al-Semeh, said by satellite phone.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the three members of the aircrew -- pilot, co-pilot and engineer -- were kidnapped in a minibus in which they were travelling by men in camouflage.