Sudanese soldiers die of thirst in desert

KHARTOUM, Nov 18 (Reuters) Four Sudanese soldiers died of hunger and thirst after they got lost in a desert and ran out of fuel, state media reported today.

Another 17 of their comrades were found in a critical condition by army patrols who scoured Sudan's remote Northern region for three days looking for them.

The men went missing after driving out into the desert around Northern region's capital Dongola early last week, the state-controlled Sudanese Media Centre reported. They became stranded when their vehicles ran out of fuel.

The survivors were found yesterday six days later by a helicopter search team and evacuated to Dongola hospital on Saturday.

REUTERS SG ND14-6