YEMEN: A former German government minister, his wife and three children were kidnapped in Yemen yesterday, local officials said, but one of their captors insisted they were all safe.
Germany's foreign ministry said former junior foreign minister Jürgen Chrobog and four family members were missing in Yemen, while a Yemeni official said the group were seized during a trip to the eastern Shabwa province from the port city of Aden.
"The hostages are safe, their life is not in danger and they are the guests of our tribe," one kidnapper from the al-Abdullah tribe said. "We were forced to do this to focus the government's attention to our cause."
He hoped the kidnapping - the third involving Westerners this year - would put pressure on the government of Yemen to free five of his fellow tribesmen who are in jail on criminal charges.
Mr Chrobog (65) was Germany's ambassador to the US from 1995 to 2001. In 2003, he was the top diplomat dealing with Europeans abducted in the Sahara desert and was able to secure the release of 14 hostages, including nine Germans.
Armed tribal groups in Yemen seize tourists frequently. They are usually freed unharmed after negotiations.
Last week, Yemeni tribesmen seized two Austrians. A month ago, another group of tribesmen captured two Swiss tourists.
Both kidnappings were aimed at pressurising the government to free jailed relatives and all tourists were released unharmed.