Insurgents in Iraq have released eight Chinese contract workers whom they abducted earlier this week.
The release of the men was announced on a videotape seen by foreign journalists, and was later confirmed by the Chinese embassy in Baghdad.
The insurgents had originally threatened to kill the hostages unless their government explained what they were doing in Iraq.
They then modified this to a demand that China ban its citizens from travelling to Iraq.
China said it had already advised its nationals not to go there.
Chinese officials say the men had been working at a textiles factory in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf.
