UN envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk has announced that the world body had withdrawn its international staff in parts of Darfur to a regional capital.

Pronk said on Thursday that the relocation would not hamper humanitarian operations in Darfur.

Spokeswoman for the UN Advanced Missions (UNAMIS) Radia Achouri confirmed the news, saying the United Nations had drawn back 32 officials from four areas on the border to West Darfur's capital city of Jineina as a precautionary measure after Arab militias said they would target foreigners and UN convoys in the area.

Achouri described the UN move as routine while urging the Sudanese government to take necessary measures to protect UN workers.

Pronk said the United Nations was conducting intensive discussions with all parties of the Darfur conflict, including the militias, to ensure a safe atmosphere for the UN agencies to resume humanitarian relief work there.

(CRI.com March 18, 2005)