Family relieved as hostage freed

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The Tyneside family of one of five European hostages freed after a kidnap ordeal in Ethiopia, have spoken of their relief.

Malcolm Smart was one of a group travelling in the Afar region when they were seized at gunpoint by a group of 50 men and marched into the desert.

It is believed Afar tribal elders negotiated their release.

Mr Smart's father Brian, from Heaton, Newcastle, said he and his wife Ida were "delighted and relieved".

Mr Smart, who worked at the Department for International Development in Addis Ababa, was with three other Britons and one French woman, taken captive on March 1.

'Very relieved'

The party were on a sightseeing tour when they were abducted and handed over to Eritrean authorities on Tuesday.

The Afar region straddles the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Mr Smart said: "We are delighted and very relieved to know that they are safe and sound.

"But we have been advised not to say anything more about this because of other hostages still in Ethiopia."

Eight Ethiopians abducted at the same time are still being held.

The Ethiopian government is now calling for their immediate release.