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Night vigil for Ethiopia hostages | Night vigil for Ethiopia hostages |
(10 minutes later) | |
A vigil is being held at an Anglican church in Addis Ababa, for eight Ethiopians still being held captive after their kidnap in the Afar region. | |
There has been concern over the safety of the Ethiopians who were taken hostage along with five British embassy workers earlier this month. | There has been concern over the safety of the Ethiopians who were taken hostage along with five British embassy workers earlier this month. |
Armed bandits seized them, but freed the foreigners to the authorities of neighbouring Eritrea on Tuesday. | Armed bandits seized them, but freed the foreigners to the authorities of neighbouring Eritrea on Tuesday. |
Eritrea has denied Ethiopian claims that they were behind the kidnapping. | Eritrea has denied Ethiopian claims that they were behind the kidnapping. |
The Afar region straddles the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea. | The Afar region straddles the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea. |
Relations between the two countries have been strained since Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war. | Relations between the two countries have been strained since Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war. |
Blame | Blame |
The BBC's Amber Henshaw in the capital, Addis Ababa, says Ethiopians and members of the international community turned out in St Matthew's church. | |
They held a minute's silence and lit candles. | |
These are outrageous allegations with no factual basis Yemani GebremeskelEritrean presidential spokesman | These are outrageous allegations with no factual basis Yemani GebremeskelEritrean presidential spokesman |
The freed hostages have now arrived back in the UK. | The freed hostages have now arrived back in the UK. |
The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, an Ethiopian rebel group operating within the region, has been blamed for the kidnapping. | The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, an Ethiopian rebel group operating within the region, has been blamed for the kidnapping. |
But the Ethiopian foreign ministry has accused Eritrea of master-minding the abduction, fuelling further tensions between the bitter rivals. | But the Ethiopian foreign ministry has accused Eritrea of master-minding the abduction, fuelling further tensions between the bitter rivals. |
Eritrea, which has a border dispute with Ethiopia, has dismissed the accusations. | Eritrea, which has a border dispute with Ethiopia, has dismissed the accusations. |
"These are outrageous allegations with no factual basis," Eritrean presidential spokesman Yemani Gebremeskel told Associated Press news agency. | "These are outrageous allegations with no factual basis," Eritrean presidential spokesman Yemani Gebremeskel told Associated Press news agency. |
Ethiopian officials say the hostages may have been marched through its porous border to Eritrea. But is not clear where the Ethiopian captives are being held. | Ethiopian officials say the hostages may have been marched through its porous border to Eritrea. But is not clear where the Ethiopian captives are being held. |
The group were touring the Afar region, one of the hottest, most remote places on earth. | The group were touring the Afar region, one of the hottest, most remote places on earth. |
It is believed that Afar tribal elders negotiated with the kidnappers to secure the foreigners' release. | It is believed that Afar tribal elders negotiated with the kidnappers to secure the foreigners' release. |