UN complains to S. Sudan after staff blocked

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations has complained to South Sudan and demanded an explanation after four local UN staff were prevented from taking a plane and had their passports confiscated.

The UN has often accused the warring forces in South Sudan of blocking UN peacekeepers as the civil war that has devastated the young nation continues to rage.

The incident occurred Monday when the group from UNMISS, the UN mission in the country, attempted to board a plane to Uganda. They also had their UN identity cards taken from them.

"The staff members were traveling on UN official business for a training course at the UN regional support center in Entebbe," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"The mission was not given any legal explanation or other reason for barring their official travel."

After the intervention of UNMISS, the documents were retrieved on Wednesday, but no explanation has been provided by the government for their initial seizure.

"A similar incident occurred with two other UNMISS national staff members at the airport" in the South Sudanese capital Juba on Tuesday, the spokesman added.

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