Sudan: Arrested foreigners have military history

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- Sudan's army spokesman says that three foreigners and a South Sudanese national arrested by authorities in a disputed area on the Sudanese-South Sudanese border had military hardware and an armored vehicle in their possession.

Col. Sawarmi Khalid Saad also said on state television late Saturday that the four - a Briton, Norwegian, South African and South Sudanese - had military backgrounds. The four were arrested in the oil-rich region of Heglig, captured by South Sudanese troops earlier this month. Sudan later said it took the region back.

Saad said the four were carrying out military activities in Heglig, but did not elaborate. Their arrest, he added, supported claims by the Khartoum government that South Sudan used "foreigners" when it captured Heglig.