ETHIOPIA:Five Europeans kidnapped in Ethiopia almost two weeks ago have been released but the fate of eight locals seized with them remains unclear, British and Ethiopian officials said yesterday.
British foreign minister Margaret Beckett said three British men, an Italian-British woman and a Frenchwoman, all linked to the British diplomatic community in the Ethiopian capital, had been freed with the help of Ethiopia's neighbour Eritrea.
"All five were released earlier today to the Eritrean authorities and have just arrived in the care of our embassy in [the Eritrean capital] Asmara," Ms Beckett told reporters. "I understand that broadly they are all in good health."
Eritrea said in a statement that the five were transferred from Ethiopia to its officials after negotiations with Afar elders.
It said a little-known Afar rebel group, the "Ethiopian opposition front known as the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front", was responsible for the abductions and that no ransom had been paid. The five were seized 12 days ago by armed attackers while travelling in Ethiopia's remote northeast Afar region, where separatist rebels are known to operate.
Regional officials and Afar locals had said the hostages had been marched into Eritrea, something Asmara had denied.
Ms Beckett said there were varying reports as to where the hostages had been held but "certainly they were released with the help of the Eritrean government".
Asked whether they had been kidnapped by Afar rebels, Ms Beckett said: "That has been the thinking earlier, but I haven't heard anything to confirm that since they were released."
Ethiopia called for the immediate release of its citizens seized with the Europeans. "We don't have any information about them. We are very concerned. They should be released unconditionally and as soon as possible," said information minister Berhan Hailu.
Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi called on the kidnappers to hand over the hostages, saying they were not the original target of the raid.
Witnesses in the desolate, salt-trading village of Hamad-Ile said the armed kidnappers first attacked local tax collectors before stumbling across the foreigners.
The Europeans were named as Peter Rudge and Jonathan Ireland, first secretary and administrative support at the British embassy in Addis Ababa, Malcolm Smart and Laure Beaufils, of the department for international development, and Rosanna Moore, wife of the local head of the British Council. - ( Reuters )