CAIRO - Two Chinese workers with a local stone material factory were kidnapped by several unknown gunmen on Thursday morning, sources with a local Chinese association told Xinhua.

Chen Jiannan, deputy head of the Chinese People Association in Egypt, said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 500,000 Egytian pounds ($83,000) for their release.

The two Chinese were just leaving their residence in Maadi district in southern Cairo for work when being kidnapped.

A Chinese embassy official confirmed the kidnapping.