Ethiopia has been in contact with the kidnappers of a European tour group that disappeared last week in one of the world's hottest and most inhospitable regions, an official says.
The captives, linked to the British Embassy, are believed to be safe in the remote Afar region, foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin said on Saturday. The region straddles Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea.
"Those who are responsible are being reached through different channels and we're hoping that these people will be released unharmed," Seyoum said. He would not speculate in which country they were being held.
While the region's ancient salt mines and volcanoes offer a spectacular, moonlike landscape, bandits operate in Afar and tourists must have armed guides. Afar is also close to the disputed border between Ethiopia and arch-rival Eritrea.
"We urge those who are responsible for this kidnapping to release those people safe, and the earlier, the better," Seyoum said.
The tour group - five employees of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa or their relatives - were abducted along with 13 Ethiopian drivers or translators on March 1. Four of the Europeans are believed to be British citizens, including one of Italian origin, the other is French. Five of the Ethiopians are believed to have escaped or been released.
British Embassy officials were not immediately available for comment.
Seyoum has said that his country would not use military force to try to secure the tour group's release, saying it was too risky for the hostages.
Investigators have examined two embassy cars marked by bullet holes in Hamedali, which is the last staging post before the region's famous salt lakes. An embassy official said nobody was believed to have been in the vehicles at the time they were shot up. The attack did not appear to be a robbery - mobile phones and luggage were still in the cars.
Police in Afar say their investigations show the group was kidnapped by dozens of armed men and taken into Eritrea. Eritrea has denied any involvement.