07/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - European Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Poul Nielson has welcomed the release of 16 humanitarian workers detained by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) this weekend in North Darfour, Sudan. One of the group is Enric Freixa, of ECHO (the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office), who works in Nairobi as a regional health advisor. He was in Darfour to assess humanitarian needs and advise on the health component of ECHO's latest EUR 10 million decision for the Darfour crisis. He said: "I am shocked that SLM/A has acted in this way, just days after it made firm commitments to assist humanitarian efforts in Darfour at a donor conference in Geneva on 3-4 June". The European Commission, one of the main donors for the Sudan, is still calling on the government and the rebel groups to end restrictions on access and protect civilians and relief workers, as promised by both parties in Geneva, Mr Nielson concludes.