ETHIOPIA: British embassy officials in Addis Ababa say they are "relieved and happy by end of kidnap ordeal of five Europeans held hostage for 12 days

The five Europeans freed 12 days after being kidnapped in remote northern Ethiopia are resting and receiving medical checks in neighbouring Eritrea before flying out to be reunited with their families. The five, based in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, including Britain's First Secretary Peter Rudge, were kidnapped on March 1 along with 13 Ethiopians accompanying them who have not been released yet. The three British men, one Italian-British woman and a French woman were first released to Eritrean authorities following their ordeal. They had been on a tourist trip to see geological sites in remote north eastern Ethiopia. Speaking on Wednesday (March 14) in Addis Ababa, the British ambassador Robert Dewar said family and friends were pleased with their release. "I am extremely relieved and happy, as are all of us at the embassy, including DFID and the British Council, that our five friends and colleagues are safe and well. I am pleased to report that the five all seem to be in generally good health. My deep concern and thoughts go out to the families of the Ethiopians who were with our five and for whom we do not yet have similar news. We hope for their safe return as soon as possible. I would like to repeat my personal thanks to the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, to other governments in the region, and to other organisations and governments and individuals. My thanks also go to the UK team here in the embassy, including DFID and the British Council, who have worked so hard, day and night for the last fortnight. I would also like to thank British ministers and officials in London and colleagues in the region and elsewhere, for all their help in securing the safe release of our five. Our five are now looking forward to being reunited soon with their families. We expect them to issue a statement later today," Dewar said. They had been on a tourist trip to see geological sites in remote north eastern Ethiopia.

ITN Source | March 15, 2007

Tags:. .following. .am. .health. .five. .source