Mine clearing expert detained in Africa (From Hereford Times)
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John Sorbo, from Herefordshire, held in Sudan
10:14am Tuesday 1st May 2012 in County By Bill Tanner
BRITISH Embassy officials expect to be allowed access to a Herefordshire aid worker in custody in Sudan accused of “suspicious activities.”
The apparent confirmation of consular access to 50-year-old John Sorbo from Herefordshire comes after days of diplomatic wrangling between the UK, the United Nations, Sudan and Norway.
Mr Sorbo, a Norwegian national, is a mine clearing expert and was working as part of a four-strong team working for the Norwegian charity People’s Aid in the newly created nation of South Sudan.
Circumstances surrounding the arrest of the four in Sudan are unclear.
Sudanese officials said the four had been detained in a “sensitive area” around the Heglig oil field.
For more on this story, see Thursday's Hereford Times.
