Ethiopian launches rescue mission  

The government of Ethiopia is sending a rescue mission to the remote Somali regio n where seven Chinese oil workers were kidnapped on Tuesday. China has strongly condemned the separatist rebel attack against its interests in Ethiopia, in which nine Chinese and 65 Ethiopia n workers died.

The workers were abducted by the Ogaden National Liberatio Front (ONLF) during an attack on a Chinese -owned oil field.

The Ethiopian leader denounced the attack as "cold-blooded murder". Ethiopia has accused neighbouring Eritrea of sponsoring the ONLF, an ethnic Somali rebel group. Eritrea has denied the accusation, saying Ethiopia is trying to trigger a war. Beijing urged the government in Addis Ababa to ensure the safety of Chinese expatriates after the "atrocious" act.

The clashes took place at an oil field in Abole, a small town about 120km (75 miles) from the regional capital, Jijiga.

"It is an outrage," Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi said at a news conference.

"I can assure you that those responsible for this act will pay in full for what they did." The bodies of the nine Chinese oil workers are due back in the Ethiopian capital within hours. A government official said the bodies of the Ethiopians who were also killed on Tuesday morning will be returned to their families.