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Sudan hangs two for killing Chinese oil workers
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Mar 18, 2010 - 7:56:32 AM

Sudan hangs two for killing Chinese oil workers

Reuters
Wednesday, March 17, 2010; 12:47 PM

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan executed two people convicted of killing four oil workers, two of them Chinese, in one of the country's most energy-rich regions, state media reported on Wednesday.

The two were found guilty in 2004 of killing the workers and looting their vehicle in Heglig in Sudan's South Kordofan state, state Suna news agency reported.

The report did not give further details of the incident but said the workers had been employed by a Chinese oil company.

Foreign interest in Sudanese oil has pushed workers into some of the country's most remote and insecure corners.

Three Sudanese working with the Yemeni HTC oil company were killed after they were ambushed while traveling between Heglig and Mayom County in South Sudan's Unity State in October 2008.

Earlier the same month, gunmen abducted nine Chinese oil workers from South Kordofan and later killed four after what China said was a failed rescue attempt.

Suna said the executions took place in the federal prison in El Obeid, the main town in Sudan's North Kordofan state.

Heglig oil field is currently operated by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operation Company, a consortium led by China's CNPC that also includes Malaysia's Petronas and Sudan's state-owned Sudapet.

(Reporting by Andrew Heavens)