Updated on Sunday, April 29, 2007, 00:00 IST

Addis Ababa, April 29: Seven Chinese workers captured in a rebel attack last week on an oil plant in Ethiopia in which 77 people died have been released, Ethiopian officials and the kidnappers said on Sunday.

"We have released the Chinese at 2:00 pm (1630 IST) today to the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)," said Abderahmane Mahdi, the London-based spokesman for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).

"They are safe and well they are now on their way to Jijiga," the provincial capital of Somali state in Southeastern Ethiopia and home to the Ogaden rebels, Mahdi said.

One Somali and one Ethiopian captured in Tuesday's dawn raid were also freed, he said.

The ICRC in Addis Ababa confirmed that the workers had been handed over and said it would issue more details later in the day.

An official with the agency said the hostages were in good health and were headed for Jijiga.

A temporary ceasefire was arranged between the ONLF and the Ethiopian Army -- with the ICRC acting as mediator -- to facilitate the handover, Mahdi said.

The Ethiopian Information Ministry confirmed their release and again accused arch-foe Eritrea, with whom they have a long-running border dispute, of being behind the raid.

"The release of the kidnapped came through the joint efforts made by Ethiopian Somali elders and the ICRC. Released hours ago, the released hostages have now arrived at the town of Degehabur," it said in a statement.

Bureau Report