The Chinese Embassy in Sudan has confirmed that the two Chinese engineers, who were kidnapped about half a month ago by members of a rebel group in Kordofan region, have been released on Friday.

The Chinese engineers are in good health and do not have any injuries when released by the abductors, said Wang Yi, the Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan.

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"The two Chinese engineers arrived at Khartoum airport in good health condition," Wang said.

Wang and Makawi Mohamed Awad, the Sudanese Petroleum Minister, received the two engineers upon arrival at the airport on Friday.

There was no mention of how the two Chinese engineers were released or if ransom was paid in exchange of their liberty but Wang said the Chinese Embassy and the government of Sudan have exerted all efforts to secure the liberty of the engineers.

The two Chinese engineers, whose identities have not been divulged, were abducted by armed men believed to be members of a rebel group identified as the Darfur Justice and Equality movement. The abduction occurred when the rebels attacked the Kanar oil field about half a month ago.

The Kanar oil field, situated in the town of Balila in Sudan's West Kordofan State, is owned by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company of Sudan.

The rebels abducted the two Chinese and another Sudanese engineer. The fate of the Sudanese engineer was not known yet as of press time

Local media reported that the recent attack and abduction was part of the rebel groups' effort to pressure the central government in Khartoum to give in to their demands, which include getting a share of the ongoing oil projects in the area.

Over the years, rebel groups have been active in the borders of Darfur and Kordofan, attacking vital installations and projects, including oil fields.