One of the two abducted Chinese escapes to safe place in Sudan

KHARTOUM, March 20, 2004 (Xinhua) — One of the two Chinese workers abducted by anti-government militants at Darfur, West Sudan, managed to escape to a safe place dominated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Saturday, said a Chinese Embassy official.

The worker was in the SAF protection while the second Chinese worker was still in the hands of anti-government rebels, said Fong Fude, charge d’affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Sudan.

He said that he had a telephone conversation with the Chinese and gave regards to him on behalf of the Chinese government.

The two Chinese were kidnapped days ago when they were working on a well-digging project at Darfur, 80 km from Buram in the west. Their cars and communications sets were seized.