KHARTOUM, Sudan — Kidnappers who abducted nine Chinese oil workers killed five of them execution-style Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Two other abducted workers managed to flee, while two remain in captivity, said ministry spokesman Ali Sadiq.
The ministry said in a statement that security forces were deployed in the area where the kidnapping occurred. No further details were provided.
The nine Chinese were abducted Oct. 18 while traveling in the southwestern oil-rich region of Kordofan near an oil field.
Sudan’s government has blamed rebels from Darfur for the kidnapping, but a spokesman for the group Monday denied involvement.
Sadiq said that by slaying the hostages, the kidnappers were apparently going ahead with their threats to drive Chinese interests from Sudan.
China, which buys nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s oil, has been criticized by rebel groups and international human-rights watchdogs for its close ties with Khartoum.
