Two kidnapped Chinese engineers set free in Sudan

Khartoum, May 3 (IANS) Two Chinese engineers, who were abducted by unidentified men in Sudan's West Kordofan state in April, have been released, Chinese embassy source Friday said.

"The two Chinese engineers were released due to efforts made by the Sudanese government and the Chinese embassy in Khartoum," the source told Xinhua.

Sudanese local media earlier reported that an armed group, affiliated to the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement(JEM), attacked Kanar oil field of the Sudanese Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) at Balila town in West Kordofan and abducted three engineers, including two Chinese and a Sudanese.

Rebel groups have been active at the borders of Darfur and Kordofan regions in western Sudan where these groups often target vital projects such as the oil fields to put pressure on the central government in Khartoum.