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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Dutch couple kidnapped in Yemen | Dutch couple kidnapped in Yemen |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| A Dutch couple living in Yemen have been taken hostage by tribesmen seeking compensation from the Yemeni government over a shooting, officials have said. | A Dutch couple living in Yemen have been taken hostage by tribesmen seeking compensation from the Yemeni government over a shooting, officials have said. |
| The two were seized by armed men while driving in the capital, Sanaa, on Tuesday and taken to a mountainous region 55 miles (90km) to the east. | The two were seized by armed men while driving in the capital, Sanaa, on Tuesday and taken to a mountainous region 55 miles (90km) to the east. |
| They told the Associated Press by telephone they were being well treated. | They told the Associated Press by telephone they were being well treated. |
| The kidnappers wanted compensation for the wounding of six tribesmen by police in an incident in 2008, officials said. | The kidnappers wanted compensation for the wounding of six tribesmen by police in an incident in 2008, officials said. |
| Later, the leader of the al-Siraj tribe claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. | Later, the leader of the al-Siraj tribe claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. |
| "We talked to the mayor and the government and everyone important," Sheikh Nasser al-Siraj told AP. | "We talked to the mayor and the government and everyone important," Sheikh Nasser al-Siraj told AP. |
| "But no-one listens. So this way we will put pressure on our government and finally get justice." | "But no-one listens. So this way we will put pressure on our government and finally get justice." |
| 'Classical kidnapping' | 'Classical kidnapping' |
| The Yemeni government said local officials had been in contact with the hostages and that it hoped the dispute with the kidnappers would be sorted soon. | The Yemeni government said local officials had been in contact with the hostages and that it hoped the dispute with the kidnappers would be sorted soon. |
| Nevertheless, security forces have surrounded the area where they are being held - Bani Dhibyan, a remote part of the al-Siraj mountains. | Nevertheless, security forces have surrounded the area where they are being held - Bani Dhibyan, a remote part of the al-Siraj mountains. |
| Yemen has a history of kidnappings by tribesmen; in most cases those taken are released unharmed soon after. The hostages are commonly used as bargaining chips in disputes with the government. | Yemen has a history of kidnappings by tribesmen; in most cases those taken are released unharmed soon after. The hostages are commonly used as bargaining chips in disputes with the government. |
| The last Western tourist to be kidnapped in Yemen was a German engineer who was seized in January and released a few days later. | |
| The woman Dutch hostage, whose husband reportedly works for a water company in Taiz, told AP by telephone on Tuesday that they had so far been treated well. | The woman Dutch hostage, whose husband reportedly works for a water company in Taiz, told AP by telephone on Tuesday that they had so far been treated well. |
| "It was a very classical kidnapping situation," she said. "We were offered lunch and tea, and were allowed to take a walk and take pictures." | "It was a very classical kidnapping situation," she said. "We were offered lunch and tea, and were allowed to take a walk and take pictures." |
| "It's such an adventure - that's the only way to cope with it," she added, predicting that they would be freed in a day. | "It's such an adventure - that's the only way to cope with it," she added, predicting that they would be freed in a day. |
| The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of its citizens had been kidnapped, but would not release any further information. | The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of its citizens had been kidnapped, but would not release any further information. |
| Correspondents say this latest kidnap is likely to further damage Yemen's nascent tourism sector and add to the security concerns of foreign firms developing its oil and gas sector. | Correspondents say this latest kidnap is likely to further damage Yemen's nascent tourism sector and add to the security concerns of foreign firms developing its oil and gas sector. |