Darfur, - Gunmen have kidnapped two foreign aid workers in Darfur and are demanding a ransom for their release, Sudanese state media report.

Aide Medicale Internationale confirmed that two of its workers, a Canadian and a French national, were abducted in southern Darfur on Saturday night.

French officials say they are in contact with both the aid agency and the local authorities.

Canada has said it is seeking information on the incident.

It is the second kidnapping of Western humanitarian workers in Darfur in less than a month.

AMI has been operating in Darfur since 2004.

Sudan expelled 13 international aid agencies after an international warrant was issued against President Omar al-Bashir last month for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Sudanese officials said that two Sudanese staff with the workers were also kidnapped but later released.

Senior Sudanese foreign ministry official Ali Yussif said the government was "doing its best" to free the AMI staff.

Sudanese and Italian officials insisted that no ransom had been paid to secure their release.