Brussels, 09/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU calls for the immediate release of humanitarian personnel and journalists held by the Sudanese authorities. The spokesman for the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy published the following statement on Monday: “Catherine Ashton condemns the recent arbitrary arrest and detention of Darfuri human rights activists and journalists by the Sudanese authorities. Over the last few days, 13 Sudanese staff of Radio Dabanga and the organisation Human Rights and Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND) are reported to have been arrested in Khartoum. She is concerned for the welfare of these individuals and calls for their release and for the Government of Sudan to abide by its obligations under international human rights law”. According to Ashton, “these arrests appear to be part of a broader pattern of harassment and intimidation of Sudanese civil society actors”. The EU is also concerned about the “harassment and detention of individuals in Darfur following the recent visit of the UN Security Council”, the statement reads. (A.N./transl.jl)