Sudan says 4 Chinese workers abducted in Darfur region have been released

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Sudan's official news agency says four Chinese workers abducted last week in the North Darfur region have been released.

SUNA says the four men were handed over on Wednesday to the joint U.N. and African African Union mission in Darfur, or UNAMID. They were kidnapped on Saturday.

SUNA has blamed the abduction on a Darfur rebel movement but has not named the group. The government had said it dispatched 18 military vehicles to pursue the abductors.

The Chinese are employees of the China Railway 18th Bureau Group, which is building a road in North Darfur just outside the regional capital, El-Fasher.

China is a major oil buyer from Sudan and invests heavily here.

SUNA says that 11 Sudanese workers who were abducted together with the Chinese remain hostages.