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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Western hostages freed in Yemen after Oman pays ransom | Western hostages freed in Yemen after Oman pays ransom |
| (9 days later) | |
| Yemeni kidnappers have released a Finnish couple and an Austrian man missing since being taken hostage in the capital Sana'a in December 2012, a senior Yemeni security source has said. | Yemeni kidnappers have released a Finnish couple and an Austrian man missing since being taken hostage in the capital Sana'a in December 2012, a senior Yemeni security source has said. |
| The source told Reuters the trio were freed on Wednesday night after an intervention by authorities in neighbouring Oman. "The Omani authorities led mediation efforts and paid a ransom to free the Austrian and Finnish hostages," the source said. "They were handed over to the Omani authorities." He declined to specify the ransom amount. | The source told Reuters the trio were freed on Wednesday night after an intervention by authorities in neighbouring Oman. "The Omani authorities led mediation efforts and paid a ransom to free the Austrian and Finnish hostages," the source said. "They were handed over to the Omani authorities." He declined to specify the ransom amount. |
| Kidnappings of westerners occur sporadically in Yemen, mostly carried out by al-Qaida militants and tribesmen. | Kidnappings of westerners occur sporadically in Yemen, mostly carried out by al-Qaida militants and tribesmen. |
| Lawlessness in the Arabian Peninsula state has alarmed its neighbour Saudi Arabia, as well as the US, which increasingly views Yemen as a front line in its struggle against al-Qaida and its affiliates. | Lawlessness in the Arabian Peninsula state has alarmed its neighbour Saudi Arabia, as well as the US, which increasingly views Yemen as a front line in its struggle against al-Qaida and its affiliates. |
| The Austrian hostage, Dominik Neubauer, had appeared in a video posted on YouTube in February with what appeared to be an AK-47 pointed at his head, saying he would be killed if ransom money was not paid to a Yemeni tribe within a week. | The Austrian hostage, Dominik Neubauer, had appeared in a video posted on YouTube in February with what appeared to be an AK-47 pointed at his head, saying he would be killed if ransom money was not paid to a Yemeni tribe within a week. |
| Neubauer, in his 20s, was snatched along with the Finns by tribesmen in the centre of Sana'a on 21 December, according to the Yemeni government. Yemen has said the three were later sold to members of al-Qaida and transferred to the small town of al-Manaseh south of the capital. | Neubauer, in his 20s, was snatched along with the Finns by tribesmen in the centre of Sana'a on 21 December, according to the Yemeni government. Yemen has said the three were later sold to members of al-Qaida and transferred to the small town of al-Manaseh south of the capital. |
| The names of the Finns were not immediately known. | The names of the Finns were not immediately known. |
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