All 25 workers kidnapped in Egypt freed

China said yesterday that 25 Chinese workers kidnapped by Egyptian Bedouins demanding the release of their Islamist relatives had been released.
The incident comes days after 29 Chinese nationals in Sudan were captured by rebels who attacked their camp in the volatile South Kordofan state, where they were involved in a road-building project. They have still not been released.
“I can confirm that all 25 people have been released. Right now they are being taken care of by the Egyptian government and are staying in army accommodation,” the assistant to the Chinese ambassador to Egypt told AFP.
“They are all well, with no injuries. There was no need to send them to hospital,” the Cairo-based assistant, who would not give his name, said over the phone. He refused to give details of how the workers were released.
The Chinese nationals – technicians and engineers who work for a military-owned cement factory in central Sinai – were abducted on Tuesday on their way to work, an Egyptian security official said.
The official Xinhua news agency said the workers had been freed by their abductors, but gave no further details of any negotiations.
“We had expected the problem to be solved in one or two days, but it was settled so quickly,” one 25-year-old worker surnamed Pan told Xinhua, adding the embassy had managed to keep in touch with them through text messages.
China’s foreign ministry yesterday warned Chinese companies and personnel working abroad to be on their guard after a similar incident in Sudan.
We “remind Chinese personnel and firms abroad to improve their risk awareness and strengthen security,” the ministry said.