Two aid workers, one from Canada and one from France, have been kidnapped in Sudan's volatile Darfur region, local officials say.

A French aid group has also confirmed the kidnapping, in yet another strike against humanitarian work in the area.

According to International Medical Aid, the two workers were taken late Saturday in the Ed El Fursan area, which is located in Darfur's south.

A total of five foreigners work in the region, said spokesperson Frederic Mar.

This is the second abduction in Darfur in less than a month, and comes after Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir kicked 13 aid groups out of the country.

Bashir expelled the groups after he was accused of atrocities by the International Criminal Court.

In March, Montreal's Laura Archer, who was working with M�decins Sans Fronti�res, was kidnapped in Darfur along with two other foreigners and a Sudanese guard. They were all later released.

Also in March, a Sudanese worker with a Canadian aid agency was shot to death in Darfur. Adam Khatir, 39, worked for the group Fellowship for African Relief.

Two security guards were also taken but were later released, according to South Darfur police chief Gen. Fatah al-Rahman,

He added that the kidnappers' identities and motives are not yet known.

With files from The Associated Press