A Chinese worker undergoes a physical check in Port Harcourt, Nigeria January 16, 2007 after he and other four were freed by hostage-takers. [Xinhua]

LAGOS -- The five kidnapped Chinese telecom workers, who were released safely Wednesday night, are basically in good health condition, Chinese sources here said on Thursday.

The sources said "after 13 days of intense work, the five compatriots are finally released."

Medical examination shows that these five workers are basically in good health condition. They were expected to arrive in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday morning.

The workers said they have not taken bath in the past two weeks.

The five Chinese telecommunication workers  were kidnapped on January 5 by armed robbers from their residence in Rumuakunde Emouha, a village about 35 km away from Port Harcourt, the capital of Nigeria's south state of Rivers.

A Chinese team tasked with coordinating rescue operation with the Nigerian government and police arrived in Port Harcourt on January 6.

The Chinese government appreciates support and assistance of relevant parties in Nigeria, a press release from the Foreign Ministry said.
 
China's party and state leaders attaches great importance to the incident and urged relevant departments to make utmost efforts in rescuing the five kidnapped workers, the press release said.

Chinese Ministries including the Foreign Ministry and Commerce Ministry as well as Chinese Embassy in Nigeria launched an emergency mechanism immediately to coordinate with relevant parties to carry out rescuing operation, it said.

Rivers State is an oil-rich region, where militant groups have attacked oil facilities and kidnapped oil workers since the beginning of the year 2006. This is the first time that Chinese workers were kidnapped.

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