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| Arabia |
| Yemen: French-Algerian hostage freed |
| 2008-08-14 |
| Tribesmen released a French engineer of Algerian origin yesterday after holding him hostage for one day in southeastern Yemen, provincial officials said. They said the release of the hostage, who was kidnapped to press for the freedom of jailed fellow clansmen, was secured after mediation by tribal figures and local officials in Shabwa, 580 km southeast of Sanaa. The engineer, identified as Yassin Yaboz, 46, works for a giant gas exporting project in the Arabian Sea port of Balhaf. He was taken at gunpoint from the Habban area, about 40 km from Ataq, the provincial capital of Shabwa. Also freed by the kidnappers, who belong to the powerful Laqmoush tribe, were four bodyguards taken hostage with Yoboz. A provincial official told Arab News the hostages' release was secured after local officials pledged to set free three Laqmoush clansmen being detained in the neighboring Hadhramout province over a land dispute. Authorities sent army and police forces to the area late Tuesday to pursue the kidnappers. |
| Posted by:Fred |