KHARTOUM - The 29 Chinese workers kidnapped last month in Sudan have boarded a plane chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after being released to ICRC representatives, Xinhua learned Tuesday.

The release followed a stream of intensive rescue efforts carried out by the Chinese government in collaboration with the Sudanese government and other parties.

On January 28, a group of gunmen belonging to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector attacked the camp of a Chinese company operating at a road construction site in South Kordofan State.

A total of 47 Chinese workers were in the camp then, among whom 29 were abducted by the assailants while the other 18 managed to escape.

Among the latter, 17 were later found by the Sudanese army and transferred to a safe place, and one was confirmed killed after having for days been unaccounted for.