Yemen kidnapping
February 1, 2012
According to Yemen's state news agency, Saba, four humanitarian aid workers from the United Nations were kidnapped in Yemen on Tuesday.
One of the four men is German, while the others were Iraqi, Palestinian and Columbian. Two Yemeni drivers were also kidnapped in the incident.
The armed kidnappers grabbed the six men near the capital, Sanaa, and are demanding the release of prisoners in exchange for their release.
The United Nations has confirmed the incident, and the Foreign Ministry in Berlin said its crisis center and the German embassy in Sanaa are aware of the situation and are gathering more information.
Kidnappings of foreigners are not uncommon in Yemen as a means of gaining concessions from local authorities. Most of the kidnap victims are eventually returned unharmed.
Author: Matt Zuvela (dpa, dapd)
Editor: Martin Kuebler