China says 9 oil workers freed in Nigeria

BEIJING, Feb 4 (Reuters) Nine Chinese oil workers abducted in an armed attack in Nigeria last month have been freed and are expected to return to China in the near future, the foreign ministry said today.

The Chinese nationals were released early in the day, following 11 days of diplomatic efforts, the ministry said on its Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn).

REUTERS AKJ MIR KP1323