Released Chinese workers arrive in Sudan's capital

KHARTOUM - A total of four Chinese workers who had been abducted by a rebel group in Sudan's Darfur region Saturday and released Wednesday, arrived in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Thursday.

One of the group, an engineer who was slightly injured during the abduction, was transferred by a plane belonging to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) from Nyala, South Darfur, while the other three were airlifted by plane from El Fasher, capital of North Darfur State.

Chinese ambassador in Khartoum Luo Xiaoguang and some Sudanese officials received the freed Chinese workers at Khartoum airport.

The four Chinese were then sent to Royal Care Hospital in Khartoum for medical checkup.

Hamid Mahmoud, the undersecretary of the ministry of roads and bridges, condemned the kidnapping and vowed to maintain security of companies operating in the field of roads in Sudan, Darfur in particular.

He reiterated that efforts were ongoing to ensure the release of Sudanese workers who were also kidnapped from the headquarters of the Chinese company in Darfur.

The Chinese ambassador, for his part, said "We believe this unfortunate incident will not affect the relations between China and Sudan. It will not affect the fruitful cooperation between the two countries."

"We hope the kidnapped Sudanese citizens will be released soon, " Luo added.

A rebel group, belonging to a Darfur armed movement, kidnapped Saturday nine workers of the Chinese company near the western salvation highway, El Fasher-Kuma sector, including four Chinese.