The Chinese government has sent a working group to Sudan to aid in the rescue of several Chinese nationals who have been abducted in the country, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Liu Weimin said the working group, which is being led by the ministry and includes officials from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, or China's cabinet, departed for Sudan on Monday evening.

"China urges relevant parties to remain controlled and guarantee the safety of the abducted workers," Liu said.

A camp belonging to a Chinese construction company operating in the South Kordofan State was attacked by rebels on Saturday afternoon. Twenty-nine Chinese workers who were staying in the camp are still being held captive by the rebels, while another 18 fled to safety.

The Sudanese army subsequently tracked down and moved 17 of the escaped workers to a safe location; the 18th worker remains missing.