7 December 2009 -- "Yesterday, the Secretary-General called Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for the sole purpose of an urgent humanitarian matter. He called to urge the President’s direct engagement in securing the release of two UNAMID staff members held hostage in Darfur for 100 days, since 29 August," announced the Secretary-General's spokesperson in New York, Mr. Martin Nesirky, at a press conference earlier today.

"The Government has been attempting to secure their release but they have not as yet been released. One of the hostages is gravely ill and the situation is critical," Mr. Nesirky continued, adding that "The President assured the Secretary-General that everything possible was being done."

The two staffers – one man and one woman – were abducted at gunpoint in West Darfur state on 29 August.

Nesirky further stated that "the Secretary-General also urged that the perpetrators of the two weekend attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers in North Darfur that killed five Rwandan peacekeepers be brought to justice."

President Bashir informed the Secretary-General that he indicated he had issued instructions to his security agencies that the perpetrators be apprehended as soon as possible, according to Nesirky.

"In concluding the call, the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation of the Sudanese government’s support for the recent appointment of Mr. Ibrahim Gambari as the new UNAMID Joint Special Representative," Nesirky said.