TWENTY-NINE Chinese hostages abducted in Sudan are expected to be released within 48 hours after mediation by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Sudanese media reported yesterday.

    “The mediation led by the ICRC between Khartoum and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leaders has made important progress and (is) expected to bear fruit within 48 hours,” Khartoum’s Al-Ahdath daily said.

    A group belonging to the SPLM northern sector attacked the camp of a Chinese company operating at a road construction site in South Kordofan state on Jan. 28.

    The rebels abducted 29 of the 47 Chinese workers in the camp, while the other 18 workers fled to neighboring areas. The Sudanese army later found 17 of those workers and transported them to a safe place, while the other was killed.

    China is using multiple channels and making every possible effort to rescue the workers, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a press briefing yesterday.

    Chinese diplomatic officials recently managed to talk to the abducted nationals over the telephone, Liu said, adding that they are in good health and of stable mind. He said rescue work is still under way.

    China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng summoned Sudan’s Charge d’Affaires in Beijing on Jan. 31 and lodged urgent entreaties to the African country after the abductions.

    China has sent a working group to Sudan to aid in the rescue. (Xinhua)