UN GAINS RELEASE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

NAIROBI // The United Nations children’s agency Unicef negotiated the release of 145 child soldiers from two rebel groups in South Sudan. “Our hope is today’s release will be followed by many others,” said Mahimbo Mdoe, Unicef head in South Sudan, said. Unicef said about 16,000 children are fighting or working as porters with armed groups in South Sudan. The 145 released this week came from a group called the Cobra Faction and from the main SPLA/IO rebel faction, both in the eastern Pibor region of the country. – AFP