A Chinese citizen abducted by Tuareg rebels in Niger on July 6 has been safely released into the care of Chinese officials, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed on Monday in Geneva.

The ICRC handed the hostage over to Chinese authorities in Agadez, a northern town of Niger, lying near to the area where he was kidnapped, an ICRC spokeswoman revealed.

She gave no details as to the Chinese national's condition, but specified that the ICRC team contained medical staff who would take care of any medical problem.

Together with the Chinese national, three injured soldiers belonging to the Niger armed forces were also released. All four had been held by the rebel Movement of Niger People for Justice.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2007)