Aid worker held hostage in Sudan is released

LONDON – A United Nations agency says an aid worker held hostage in Sudan's South Darfur region for almost three months has been released.

The World Food Program said on Wednesday that Patrick Noonan had been held for a total of 86 days, but was now being cared for by the organization after he was freed from captivity.

Noonan, a British logistician for the WFP, was taken hostage on March 6 by a group of armed men, along with his Sudanese driver, who was later released.

WFP executive director Ertharin Cousin said in a statement that Noonan's capture has been "a great strain on his family."

Britain's Africa minister Henry Bellingham said the U.K. had thanked Sudan's government and the governor of South Darfur for their efforts to help secure Noonan's release.