KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants on the advent of Eid al-Adha festival have freed 29 workers of a private construction company in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, a local official said Wednesday.

The prisoners, who were abducted in mid June by the militants, released under a decree by the militants' leaders, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, in Shorabak district's Srusahan area of the province on Tuesday, provincial governor spokesman Aziz Ahmad Azizi told Xinhua.

The local government officials aided the released workers to join their families.

Taliban rejected a ceasefire offer announced by Afghan government on Sunday, but in their Eid message, the group said their Commission on Prisoners Affairs were working to release those qualified inmates under their captivity.

The annual festival of Eid, also known as the festival of sacrificing animals, is observed in the Islamic world from Tuesday Aug. 21 until Thursday Aug. 23 this year.