|
Gao Kexiang, the ambassador of China to Guinea Bissau, and two of his colleagues have been successfully rescued by local police after being kidnapped for five hours by a group of armed men, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The kidnapping took place in the port city of Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau at 11:30 p.m. local time on Monday.
The ambassador, who was accredited to the country in September 2001 and other two embassy staff were captured by four armed men at their residence.
The diplomats suffered a violent knife attack and were also beaten with iron bars. Gao was wounded in the back and leg.
The bandits stole valuables from the residence and forced Gao to go to the embassy and remove cash from its safe.
At 4 a.m. the following morning, when the kidnappers were about to leave with their hostages, local police rushed to the embassy and exchanged fire with the bandits, but none of the Chinese diplomats were hit.
One of the kidnappers was shot dead and the three others managed to escape and remain at large.
The diplomats could not be reached for comment Wednesday and sources said they might still be in hospital receiving treatment.
Reports say that Guinea Bissau President Kumba Yalla and other top leaders visited the Chinese embassy on Tuesday morning to offer their sympathy to the diplomats. They pledged to bring the criminals to justice.
(China Daily February 13, 2003)
|
