Chinese workers kidnapped by Sudan rebels

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Sudanese authorities Sunday tried to find 20 Chinese workers kidnapped by rebels near the border with South Sudan.

China's official Xinhua news agency reported the captives had been working on a road construction project and were employed by Sinohydro.

The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, which has close ties to the ruling party in South Sudan, claimed responsibility and put the number of workers captured at 29. The rebels said they also had captured a number of Sudanese troops.

China has widespread interests in Sudan, mostly in oil projects. Tensions between Sudan and South Sudan have been mounting, largely over how to split oil revenues, The Washington Post reported.