LOME, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company executive kidnapped in northern Niger 10 days ago was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday, the Chinese embassy in Niger said on Monday.

    Zhang Guohua, accompanied by (ICRC) workers, arrived at the Societe Des Mines D'Agelik, a uranium prospecting company floated in Niger by the China Nuclear Engineering & Construction (Group) Corporation on Monday morning, the embassy said.

    On July 6, Zhang, deputy general manager of the Societe Des Mines D'Agelik, was taken hostage by unidentified gunmen in the region of Agadez, some 1,000 km north of the capital city Niamey.

    In a statement on July 7, a Niger-based rebel group, named the Movement of Niger People for Justice (MNJ), claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, which it said was in response to the company's policy of employing people from the capital rather than locals.

    Following the rebel group's announcement, the Niger government moved swiftly to condemn the act and promised to take all necessary measures to secure the Chinese national's freedom within the shortest time possible.

    Security in northern Niger has become a focal point since the same group attacked a military camp in the Agadez region last month, killing 13 soldiers, wounding over 30 others and taking 40 people hostage.

    In April, the group attacked the largest uranium project of Areva, a French nuclear energy heavyweight.