DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=YEMEN KIDNAP (L)
NUMBER=2-255527
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Security forces in Yemen say they have
surrounded the hideout of gunmen who kidnapped three
U-S citizens. V-O-A Correspondent Scott Bobb reports
from our Middle East Bureau in Cairo that authorities
are negotiating with the kidnappers for the release of
the Americans and hope the incident will end
peacefully.
TEXT: The hostages include a teacher at the American
Institute for Yemeni Studies in Sana'a, and two
relatives. They reportedly were seized as they
returned to Sana'a from the town of Dhammar to the
south and were taken to a hideout in Marib Province,
140 kilometers east of the Yemeni capital.
The U-S State Department confirmed the abductions, but
declined to reveal the victims' identity. U-S
officials in Yemen said they hoped the incident would
be resolved peacefully.
Yemeni officials said the abductors were demanding the
release of a number of tribesmen who are in prison on
charges of attacking an oil pipeline in Marib province
last July.
Officials say the abductions do not appear to be
linked to militants of the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army,
which has threatened to attack foreign tourists and
installations after the execution 10 days ago of one
of its leaders. Zein al-Abidine al-Mehdar was hanged
after being convicted in the kidnapping of 16 western
tourists last December. Four of these tourists and a
number of their kidnappers were killed in the rescue
operation.
The latest abduction came as the government of Yemen
announced it was setting up a special court and
prosecution department to deal with kidnappings and
acts of sabotage.
Disgruntled inhabitants of neglected rural regions in
Yemen frequently attack oil installations or abduct
foreigners to press for better government services or
seek redress for grievances. The victims are usually
released unharmed.
However, last December's kidnapping, the first by
Islamist militants, brought travel warnings from a
number of western governments and a considerable
decline in tourism. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE/LTD/JP
27-Oct-1999 12:18 PM EDT (27-Oct-1999 1618 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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