The Chinese Embassy in Sudan said on Sunday that nine Chinese workers had been kidnapped in an oil field near the restive western Sudanese region of Darfur.

A spokesman of the Chinese embassy told Xinhua that the nine workers belonging to the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) were kidnapped by unknown militants at the Southern Kordofan State.

Until now no armed group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

The Chinese embassy has started an emergency mechanism and held intensive contacts and consultations with the Sudanese authorities for an early release of the Chinese workers, according to the spokesman.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2008)