25 Chinese workers held by locals in Egypt
Updated: 2012-02-01 04:04
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
CAIRO - Twenty-five Chinese workers working for a cement factory in Egypt were held Tuesday by some local people in the northern Sinai town of Arish, officials at the Chinese embassy in Cairo told Xinhua.
The Chinese -- 24 workers and a translator -- were riding a bus to their plant when they were stopped by locals on a road in Arish and then taken to a makeshift tent nearby, commercial affairs counsellor of the embassy Ma Jianchun told Xinhua.
Ma said he was on his way to Arish to deal with the incident.
The Chinese workers were safe now and some kept contact with the embassy through mobile phone, said Zhang Zhizhong, consular affairs director of the embassy.
Zhang said the Chinese workers were seized at around 11:40 am local time (0940 GMT). Chinese Ambassador Song Aiguo has talked with officials of the Egyptian interior and defense ministries, urging the Egyptian side to put the safety of Chinese workers first, properly handle the incident and secure their release as soon as possible.
Egyptian security forces have rushed to the scene and contacted local tribal leaders over the incident, he added.
The local people demanded the Egyptian government release their relatives detained several years ago because of suspected involvement in attacks in South Sinai between 2004 and 2006.
Related Stories
20 Chinese workers held in Egypt 2012-01-31 22:11
Workers held by rebels in Sudan 2012-01-30 07:55
China values Egypt ties: special envoy 2011-08-30 17:42
Egypt's new govt faces tough test 2011-12-18 07:47
Hot Topics
Kim Jong-il, Mengniu, train crash probe, Vaclav Havel, New Year, coast guard death, Internet security, Mekong River, Strait of Hormuz, economic work conference
Editor's Picks
Culture festival held in E China |
Water delivery after river found contaminated |
Indian air force to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets |
Miniature manuscript by Charlotte Bronte on display |
Platini will be a good FIFA president, says Blatter |
Marshall gets day in sun to lead AFC's win |