Ministry: China moves to rescue kidnapped engineer in Afghanistan

By Chen Qian and Lydia Chen  |   2008-7-2  |     ONLINE EDITION

THE central government is making an all-out effort to rescue a Chinese engineer who was kidnapped by unknown armed men in southern Afghanistan on Monday, a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said this morning.

The authority is paying close attention to the case and is doing its best to rescue Liu Jianchao, the spokesman said.

Liu and his Afghan driver were kidnapped in Wardak province in the south of Afghanistan on Monday.

Previous reports said the driver was freed and efforts to have Liu released were ongoing. The governor of Wardak said the engineer will be released soon, but refused to reveal more details.

The construction firm that employs Liu is building a road between Wardak and Baghlan.

A Taliban spokesman said that it was not involved in the kidnapping.

The Taliban have kidnapped people in the region before. Most people are released although some have been killed, the report said.

Last year, Taliban insurgents kidnapped two Germen nationals, killing one and releasing another after a month. They also abducted 23 Koreans last year and killed two of them, the report said.