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Ethiopia kidnap group 'are safe' | Ethiopia kidnap group 'are safe' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A group of British embassy workers kidnapped in northern Ethiopia 11 days ago are "safe and well", the country's prime minister has said. | A group of British embassy workers kidnapped in northern Ethiopia 11 days ago are "safe and well", the country's prime minister has said. |
Meles Zenawi said efforts to contact the kidnappers were under way and he had a good idea where they were based. | Meles Zenawi said efforts to contact the kidnappers were under way and he had a good idea where they were based. |
He said the workers - four Britons, one French citizen and their Ethiopian staff - were not personally targeted. | |
Officials are contacting a network of tribal elders in Ethiopia's Afar region in a bid to locate the group. | Officials are contacting a network of tribal elders in Ethiopia's Afar region in a bid to locate the group. |
It is thought they are being held in the country's far north, near the border with Eritrea. | It is thought they are being held in the country's far north, near the border with Eritrea. |
Mr Meles described them as people who had "not done anything to hurt anyone". | Mr Meles described them as people who had "not done anything to hurt anyone". |
"I do not believe these people were targeted. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. | "I do not believe these people were targeted. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. |
He spoke of the kidnappers having taken "a step too far", saying they "need to find a way to redress their steps in a way that does not affect their interests". | He spoke of the kidnappers having taken "a step too far", saying they "need to find a way to redress their steps in a way that does not affect their interests". |
But Mr Meles gave few new details about the kidnap and told journalists not to expect new information any time soon. | But Mr Meles gave few new details about the kidnap and told journalists not to expect new information any time soon. |
Night-time raid | Night-time raid |
Witnesses in Hamedali, a village in Ethiopia's Afar region, told Reuters news agency how the armed kidnappers initially attacked local tax collectors before stumbling across the foreigners. | Witnesses in Hamedali, a village in Ethiopia's Afar region, told Reuters news agency how the armed kidnappers initially attacked local tax collectors before stumbling across the foreigners. |
The five Europeans, accompanied by local guides, translators and drivers, were apparently on a sightseeing tour when they were abducted. | The five Europeans, accompanied by local guides, translators and drivers, were apparently on a sightseeing tour when they were abducted. |
One of the Land Rovers driven by the group was recovered by investigators on the weekend. | One of the Land Rovers driven by the group was recovered by investigators on the weekend. |
The Foreign Office says it is investigating reports that the kidnappers are Afar separatist rebels. | The Foreign Office says it is investigating reports that the kidnappers are Afar separatist rebels. |
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following a 30-year guerrilla war. | Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following a 30-year guerrilla war. |
Relations between the two countries have been strained since. | Relations between the two countries have been strained since. |
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