KHARTOUM, Sudan — Darfur refugees released the remaining Sudanese hostages detained in a sprawling displaced people's camp in this country's crisis-wracked west, the United Nations said Wednesday.

UN spokesman George Somerwill said the five hostages were released late Tuesday or early Wednesday from the Kalma Camp in the South Darfur city of Nyala.

They were among 30 Sudanese aid workers and 18 Health Ministry employees abducted by angry refugees who were protesting the Sudanese government's recent detention of a popular tribal sheik, South Darfur police said in a statement.

"The situation has been resolved and everyone has been released," Somerwill told The Associated Press.

The hostages had been cornered in a camp medical clinic run by the Spanish Red Cross and the Sudanese Red Crescent since Sunday. The bulk of the hostages were released on Monday.

No details on the sheik nor why he was abducted have been made available. But Somerwill said he was transferred from military intelligence custody to a local police station, a move which eased camp tensions.

The Kalma Camp is home to about 90,000 people who have been forced from their homes during the Darfur conflict, which began in February 2003 when two African rebel groups took up arms against the Sudanese government amid accusations of repression and unfair distribution of wealth.

The government has been accused of supporting Arab nomads known as the Janjaweed, who have been blamed for a campaign of killings, rape and arson. The Sudanese government denies backing the Janjaweed.

The United Nations estimates that 180,000 people have died, mainly through famine and disease. Several million more have either fled into neighbouring Chad or been displaced inside Sudan.