Africa News
Sudanese troops free 14 Chinese workers from rebel group
Jan 30, 2012, 9:15 GMT
Johannesburg - Sudanese troops have freed 14 of 29 Chinese workers taken hostage by a rebel group over the weekend in the volatile state of South Kordofan, a top official announced on Monday.
Ahmed Haroun, the state's governor, was quoted by the official news agency SUNA as saying the workers are in 'good condition.'
He also said military operations against the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North were continuing.
China's Foreign Ministry had asked the Sudanese government to expedite a rescue operation and prioritize the safety of the Chinese citizens, who were snatched on Saturday.
Beijing is a strategic partner of Khartoum and is the largest buyer of Sudanese oil.
South Kordofan is one of three areas that have seen violence break out since South Sudan split from the north in 2011 to become the world's newest nation. The border between the two states remains poorly defined.
Khartoum is also facing a rebellion in the western Darfur region.
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