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Hostages freed in Yemen
31/12/2005 15:33 - (SA)
Sanaa - A German family of five taken hostage by tribesmen in eastern Yemen about a week ago was freed on Saturday, the official Saba news agency reported.
"The five German hostages who were kidnapped in Shabwa province were released this afternoon, with their three Yemeni drivers," the agency said.
The family of former German diplomat Juergen Chrobog was abducted about five days ago from a restaurant on the road between the port city of Aden and Shabwa, which lies 480km east of the capital Sanaa.
Their release followed mediation efforts by a team made up of tribal chiefs and government representatives who negotiated with the hostage-takers.
It was the fourth abduction of foreign tourists in Yemen this year. Two Austrians were freed only last week after being held for three days.
Tribal chief Sheikh al-Ahmar Ali al-Aswad was said by tribal sources to have been holding the Germans as bargaining chips for the release of the five brothers he says were wrongly imprisoned by Yemeni authorities.
It was not known if the conditions for the release of the five hostages were fulfilled.
German officials had been in touch with their Yemeni counterparts since the abduction to try to end the hostage crisis peacefully.
The German foreign ministry on Saturday confirmed that a German family of five taken hostage in eastern Yemen about five days ago has been freed.
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