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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Foreigners 'seized' in Ethiopia | Foreigners 'seized' in Ethiopia |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Several Britons with connections to the UK government are part of a group of 15 tourists missing in Ethiopia, the UK Foreign Office has confirmed. | Several Britons with connections to the UK government are part of a group of 15 tourists missing in Ethiopia, the UK Foreign Office has confirmed. |
| Diplomats in Ethiopia say the group was kidnapped in the remote north-east of the country about 800km (500 miles) from the capital, Addis Ababa. | Diplomats in Ethiopia say the group was kidnapped in the remote north-east of the country about 800km (500 miles) from the capital, Addis Ababa. |
| Most of the tourists are believed to be French, the others British and Italian. | Most of the tourists are believed to be French, the others British and Italian. |
| They were travelling to the Afar desert, one of the hottest and most inhospitable areas of the world. | They were travelling to the Afar desert, one of the hottest and most inhospitable areas of the world. |
| "We heard about an abduction and we are trying to confirm their whereabouts," Bereket Simon, communications adviser to Ethiopia's prime minister, told AFP news agency. | "We heard about an abduction and we are trying to confirm their whereabouts," Bereket Simon, communications adviser to Ethiopia's prime minister, told AFP news agency. |
| "We'll try our best to ensure their safety," he said. | "We'll try our best to ensure their safety," he said. |
| An official statement from Ethiopia's foreign ministry is expected later on Friday afternoon. | An official statement from Ethiopia's foreign ministry is expected later on Friday afternoon. |
| French diplomats in Ethiopia said the tourists had been kidnapped. | French diplomats in Ethiopia said the tourists had been kidnapped. |
| "There has been a kidnapping, that's certain... It happened the evening before yesterday [Wednesday]," the French ambassador to Ethiopia, Stephane Gompertz, told AFP. | |
| Camping tour | Camping tour |
| A businessman who works in the area told the Associated Press news agency that one member of the group managed to escape and use a satellite phone to alert the authorities. | A businessman who works in the area told the Associated Press news agency that one member of the group managed to escape and use a satellite phone to alert the authorities. |
| Reports suggest that two separate groups - one of at least 10 French tourists, the other a mixture of nationalities - have disappeared. | Reports suggest that two separate groups - one of at least 10 French tourists, the other a mixture of nationalities - have disappeared. |
| Some of the tourists are reported to have been on camping expedition organised by tour operator Origins Ethiopia. | |
| Correspondents say a number of Ethiopian drivers and guides are also missing. | Correspondents say a number of Ethiopian drivers and guides are also missing. |
| Western diplomats are sending representatives to the largest town in the area, Mekele. | Western diplomats are sending representatives to the largest town in the area, Mekele. |
| Afar is known for its inhospitable terrain and thieves and a small rebel group are active there. | Afar is known for its inhospitable terrain and thieves and a small rebel group are active there. |
| More intrepid visitors like to tour the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth known for its salt mines and active volcanoes, Reuters news agency reports. | More intrepid visitors like to tour the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth known for its salt mines and active volcanoes, Reuters news agency reports. |
| Tourists are advised to travel there with an armed guard. | Tourists are advised to travel there with an armed guard. |
| Have you visited the Afar region? Have you taken part in a similar expedition? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Have you visited the Afar region? Have you taken part in a similar expedition? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can also email your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. | You can also email your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |