More time for the kidnapers [Archives:2006/981/Front Page]
By:Amel Al-Ariqi
SANA'A, Sept, 13 ) Yemeni authorities will give the kidnappers of four French tourists more days to free the hostages, official said on Wednesday
According to Khaleej Times, who quoted an official who speaking from the southeast region where the four hostages are held, the government is avoiding the use of force to free the French hostages
“We don't want to use force immediately. We can give them two or three days to negotiate in order to release the hostages peacefully,” the official said.
The remarks came after the waringn by the kidnappers saying they will kill the tourists and the Yemeni translator if the government uses any type of military force to free them.
The four tourists, all men, were abducted by armed members from the Al-Abdullah Bin Dahla tribe on Sunday in Shabwa province 300 km from Sana'a.
The same clan kidnapped a German diplomat and his family last December.
According to a local newspaper the four tourists were in a convoy of foreign tourists when armed gunmen blocked their vehicle and took them hostage. They were taken to Rasad region, the stronghold of the al-Abdullah tribe, in a mountainous region difficult for vehicles to reach.
The kidnapers are demanding that five members of their family be released from jail in exchange the release of the tourists.
According to local authorities the kidnapping was a result of the failure of government authorities to fulfill their promise to release the jailed members last year in exchange for the German family.
The jailed tribesmen are being held over a blood feud against members of a rival tribe in the same region, media sources quoted officials.
Local authorities have so far said they will only comply with these demands after the presidential elections next Wednesday.
One of the leaders of the al-Abdullah tribe, Mallah Ziyara, said the tribe was surprised by the kidnapping, which was carried out by some members “who do not represent the tribe.” He added the kidnappers were warned force would be used against them if the tourists were not released.
Elderly tribesmen began mediation efforts with the kidnappers immediately after the announcement of the kidnapping. In addition, President Ali Abdullah Saleh chose his former defense minister, Abdullah Ali Elaiwah, to head a committee for talks between the government and Al Abdullah tribe. The source said the negotiations also include deputy education minister Abdul-Aziz bin Habtor and Dr. Naser al-Awlaqi.
On Tuesday some local newspaper reported the negations failed and some officials talked about the ability of using the military options, saying military forces are deployed 7km far from the kidnappers location.
However the government decided to give more time to the kidnapers.
The French Embassy refused to comment on the ongoing situation.
However Al Khaleej Times reported that a French diplomat, who requested anonymity, said France's ambassador in Sanaa, Alain Moureau, had stressed to Yemeni authorities on several occasions that Paris places high importance on the hostages' lives.
“I don't dare imagine that force will be used without consulting the French partner,” the diplomat told AFP.
The foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said on Tuesday that France hoped the crisis would be resolved in a manner that would guarantee the safety of the hostages.
Between 1991 and 2001 there were 325 people kidnapped in Yemen, including 91 French, 80 Germans, 37 Britons, 23 Americans and 22 Dutch.
Yemen has executed two convicted kidnappers so far this year.
——
[archive-e:981-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-09-14-p:front]
