YEMEN/FILE: Yemen dispatch troops to force release of four French tourists kidnapped by armed tribesmen

Yemen dispatched troops on Monday (September 11) to force the release of four French tourists kidnapped by armed tribesmen on Sunday (September 10), a Yemeni official said. Naser al-Khudur, deputy governor of the south eastern province of Shabwa, said at least 12 military vehicles were on their way to try to arrest the kidnappers. However, Khudur said negotiations to secure their release were still on track. Armed Yemeni tribesmen kidnapped the tourists in the east of the Arab country on Sunday to press for their relatives to be released from jail, Yemeni and French officials said. Khudur said President Ali Abdullah Saleh instructed his military adviser to oversee the raid. Scores of tourists and foreigners working in Yemen have been kidnapped over the past decade by tribesmen demanding better schools, roads and services, or the release of prisoners. Most hostages have been released unharmed. The latest kidnappings coincide with campaigning for the September 20 presidential and municipal elections. Yemeni security sources said members of the same tribe had taken hostage, and released, five German tourists last year. Impoverished Yemen hopes to boost its tourism, but attacks by al Qaeda-linked militants and kidnappings by disgruntled tribesmen have scared off many travellers. Saleh has vowed to crack down on such abductions. Yemen has executed at least two convicted kidnappers so far this year to serve as a deterrent.

ITN Source | September 12, 2006

Tags:. .released. .attacks. .sunday. .monday. .security