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Hostages' bodies 'found in Yemen' Hostages' bodies 'found in Yemen'
(about 2 hours later)
At least three foreign women, thought to be part of a group which was kidnapped in Yemen, have been found dead, local officials have said. At least seven foreign hostages seized in Yemen, including at least one child, have been found dead, officials say.
The group of nine foreign hostages, three of them children, was kidnapped in a mountainous northern area. They were reportedly part of a group of nine foreigners, three of them children, who were kidnapped last week in a mountainous northern area.
It comprised seven Germans, a male British engineer and a female South Korean teacher. The group comprised seven Germans, a male British engineer and a female South Korean teacher.
One unconfirmed report citing unnamed security officials said the bodies of more of the foreigners had been found. So far no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack blamed by Yemen on a local Shia rebel group.
More than 200 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Yemen in the last 15 years, often for ransom. But most have been released unharmed.
Militant groups
Yemen's Interior Ministry earlier said the foreigners were kidnapped while on a picnic on Friday in the north-western province of Saada.Yemen's Interior Ministry earlier said the foreigners were kidnapped while on a picnic on Friday in the north-western province of Saada.
The authorities said the group included a German doctor, his wife and three children.The authorities said the group included a German doctor, his wife and three children.
The kidnapped adults all worked at a hospital in Saada, the state news agency said.The kidnapped adults all worked at a hospital in Saada, the state news agency said.
The UK and German foreign ministries said they were investigating reports of the deaths.The UK and German foreign ministries said they were investigating reports of the deaths.
The Yemeni government has blamed a local Shia rebel group, Huthi Zaidi, for the kidnapping. The group, which has been fighting the government for the last five years, denied any involvement, AFP reported. The Yemeni government blamed a local Shia rebel group, led by Abdulmalik al-Houthi, for the kidnapping.
More than 200 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Yemen in the last 15 years. Most have been released unharmed. The group has fought a sporadic insurgency in the Zaidi Shia heartland between the capital, Sanaa, and the border with Saudi Arabia.
But it denied any involvement in a statement.
A local tribal leader in the area, speaking to the Associated Press news agency anonymously, blamed al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda is known to have operated in the area, and analysts say it may be regrouping in Yemen after coming under pressure in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
CIA Director Leon Panetta said last week that Somalia and Yemen may have become safe havens for the group.
Yemeni authorities said on Sunday they had arrested Hassan Hussein Bin Alwan, described as the al-Qaeda's financier in the region and one of its "most dangerous members".