Four Chinese workers, who were abducted on Jan. 12 in Sudan's Darfur region, have been released, a local official in North Darfur state announced and Chinese embassy confirmed on Wednesday.

"Four Chinese workers, who were kidnapped days ago in North Darfur state, have been released and handed to the United Nations- African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)," an official at the Chinese Embassy in Khartoum told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"The release of the four workers came as a result of efforts been made by all concerned parties," he added.

The official said that "after the kidnapping incident, the Chinese foreign ministry showed great concern and instructed the Chinese embassy in Khartoum to immediately embark on an active and effective rescue operation."

"Despite the release of the four Chinese workers, the Chinese embassy in Khartoum asked the Chinese companies and all the Chinese nationals in Sudan to ... exercise maximum sense of caution and not to go to dangerous and disturbed areas," the Chinese official said.

Earlier Wednesday, Mohamed Suleiman Rabih, Commissioner of Kuma Locality in North Darfur State, said that North Darfur state's authorities earlier arrested some people belonging to a rebel faction which was responsible for kidnapping the Chinese workers.

The freed Chinese workers "are in good health," he added.

The commissioner said efforts were continuing to ensure the release of five Sudanese who worked for the Chinese company entrusted with building the western salvation highway, El Fasher- Kuma sector.

A rebel group, belonging to a Darfur armed movement, on Saturday kidnapped nine workers of the Chinese company, including four Chinese.