50 trapped Chinese flown to Baghdad by helicopter

More than 50 Chinese nationals trapped in conflict-torn northern Iraq arrived in Baghdad by helicopter on Wednesday night.

The rest of the 1,200 China Machinery Engineering Corp employees trapped in the country are expected to be taken to the Iraqi capital by bus within three days.

One Chinese transported by military helicopter told Caixin magazine that by about 3 pm on Thursday they were heading for Baghdad airport. It is not known if the workers have since left Iraq.