Chinese workers freed in Sudan
Source: Agencies |
February 8, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Rebel forces in Sudan's border state of South Kordofan released 29 Chinese workers to the International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday, 11 days after they were kidnapped, Sudan's foreign ministry said.
The workers were then flown from Kauda in South Kordofan to Nairobi in Kenya and handed over to Chinese embassy officials. They reached the Kenyan airport at around 5:35pm local time.
The 29, some looking frail, will set off for China after a short stay in Nairobi.
"I feel good," one of the workers told Xinhua news agency reporters at the scene.
They appeared at the airport flanked by Chinese officials including Liu Guangyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, and Qiu Xuejun, head of a Chinese team in Sudan assisting the rescue operation.
"The Sudanese foreign ministry affirms to the government and people of China that Sudan's government seeks to protect Chinese investments and workers involved in it," a ministry statement said.
The workers were captured on January 28 after rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North attacked a construction site. Of the 47 Chinese who worked there, 29 were taken hostage, 17 managed to escape and one was shot and killed.
The 29 were apparently pawns in a dispute between Sudan and rebels allied with South Sudan.
The workers were employed by the state-owned Sinohydro Corporation, a hydropower engineering and construction company.
The kidnappings highlighted the difficulty Chinese companies face as they venture into risky areas shunned by Western companies.
The body of the worker who died has been handed over to China by Sudanese authorities.
The workers were then flown from Kauda in South Kordofan to Nairobi in Kenya and handed over to Chinese embassy officials. They reached the Kenyan airport at around 5:35pm local time.
The 29, some looking frail, will set off for China after a short stay in Nairobi.
"I feel good," one of the workers told Xinhua news agency reporters at the scene.
They appeared at the airport flanked by Chinese officials including Liu Guangyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, and Qiu Xuejun, head of a Chinese team in Sudan assisting the rescue operation.
"The Sudanese foreign ministry affirms to the government and people of China that Sudan's government seeks to protect Chinese investments and workers involved in it," a ministry statement said.
The workers were captured on January 28 after rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North attacked a construction site. Of the 47 Chinese who worked there, 29 were taken hostage, 17 managed to escape and one was shot and killed.
The 29 were apparently pawns in a dispute between Sudan and rebels allied with South Sudan.
The workers were employed by the state-owned Sinohydro Corporation, a hydropower engineering and construction company.
The kidnappings highlighted the difficulty Chinese companies face as they venture into risky areas shunned by Western companies.
The body of the worker who died has been handed over to China by Sudanese authorities.
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