Seven Chinese fishermen abducted off Cameroon's resource-rich Bakassi peninsula last week were freed on Wednesday, Cameroonian and Chinese sources told AFP.
   

The hostages had left the peninsula by boat and were due in Limbe port, China's state-run Xinhua news agency said, quoting Chinese diplomats.
   

"They were freed this evening," a Cameroonian source close to the case said.
   

It was unclear if a ransom was paid for their release.
   

The men, abducted on March 12 from two fishing boats, were travelling to Limbe with a representative of the Chinese company that employed them, Xinhua said.
   

Two representatives of the Chinese embassy in Yaounde were going to Limbe to meet them, it said.
   

Chinese ambassador Xue Jinwei told Xinhua that the release had been secured after days of negotiations.
   

Cameroonian sources have said the kidnappers were from a group called the Africa Marine Commando who had demanded a ransom of 15,000 dollars (11,000 euros) to 25,000 dollars.
   

A Chinese diplomat said Monday the seven were "in good health" and had not been mistreated.

Source: AFP