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Eritrean forces blamed for kidnap Eritrean forces blamed for kidnap
(about 2 hours later)
Eritrean forces are behind the kidnap of five British people in Ethiopia, a local official has told the BBC. Eritrea has denied claims its forces were behind the kidnap of five British people in Ethiopia on Thursday.
The president of Ethiopia's northern Afar region said 20 to 25 troops attacked the embassy officials and their relatives as they slept. The embassy staff and their relatives were sightseeing near the disputed border region between the countries when they went missing.
Ismael Ali Sero also said cars used by the sightseers were set on fire in the raid on their camp early on Thursday. Eritrea denies any involvement. The president of Ethiopia's northern Afar region said Eritrean troops had taken them over the border.
Mr Ismael said the group was marched to the town of Waime in Eritrea. The Foreign Office did not confirm the report, and the Ethiopian ambassador to the UK refused to "finger point".
The Britons were taken 12-18 miles (20-30 km) through the disputed border region, he said. The local Ethiopian official, Ismael Ali Sero, said cars used by the sightseers were set on fire in the early-morning raid on their camp.
He said money, mobile and satellite phones were also stolen. We are not in the business of finger pointing at any group or individual or any country Berharnu Kebede, Ethiopian ambassador to the UK class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/3958047.stm">Tourism in Ethiopia
The Briton's tour operator Tony Hickey told the AFP news agency that three vehicles in which the Britons and 13 Ethiopians were travelling had been found destroyed in Hamed Ela near the border. He said the group was marched 12-18 miles (20-30 km) to the town of Waime in Eritrea.
Money, mobile and satellite phones were also stolen, he added.
Berharnu Kebede, Ethiopian ambassador to the UK, told Sky News: "We are not in the business of finger pointing at any group or individual or any country.
"For us the priority is to secure the safe return of these people, so no official from the Ethiopian government has said that."
Yemane Gebremeskel, the director of Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki's office, said Mr Ismael's claim was "crazy".
"No one is involved in any business of kidnapping," he told AFP.
"Of course there are no Eritrean soldiers in Ethiopia."
A peace deal was struck in 2000 but the two countries have yet to define the status of the border, patrolled by UN observers.
French nationals 'safe'
The official statements came after the Briton's tour operator Tony Hickey said three vehicles in which the Britons and 13 Ethiopians were travelling had been found destroyed in Hamed Ela near the border.
Mr Hickey, who runs the Ethiopian Quadrants tour company, said locals reported the cars were hit by anti-tank grenade launchers and that one or two Ethiopians were also kidnapped.Mr Hickey, who runs the Ethiopian Quadrants tour company, said locals reported the cars were hit by anti-tank grenade launchers and that one or two Ethiopians were also kidnapped.
He told the BBC many foreign tourists had visited the area in the last year and suggested the Eritrean authorities could have acted to "embarrass" the Ethiopian government.He told the BBC many foreign tourists had visited the area in the last year and suggested the Eritrean authorities could have acted to "embarrass" the Ethiopian government.
The UK Foreign Office said it could not confirm the reports.
French nationals 'safe'
The group of embassy officials and their relatives went missing in the north of the country, near the Eritrean border, and there has been no contact with the group for more than two days.The group of embassy officials and their relatives went missing in the north of the country, near the Eritrean border, and there has been no contact with the group for more than two days.
Seven French nationals who had been thought to be among the kidnapped group are safe and well, the group's travel company, Origins Ethiopia, has said.Seven French nationals who had been thought to be among the kidnapped group are safe and well, the group's travel company, Origins Ethiopia, has said.
About 10 British officials, thought to include an expert hostage negotiator, have been meeting at the British embassy in the capital, Addis Ababa, in an attempt to find the missing Britons.About 10 British officials, thought to include an expert hostage negotiator, have been meeting at the British embassy in the capital, Addis Ababa, in an attempt to find the missing Britons.
Ethiopian police said the tourists were kidnapped, along with 13 Ethiopian drivers and interpreters, about 800km (500 miles) north-east of Addis Ababa.Ethiopian police said the tourists were kidnapped, along with 13 Ethiopian drivers and interpreters, about 800km (500 miles) north-east of Addis Ababa.
The Italian foreign ministry told the AFP news agency that one of those kidnapped had dual British-Italian nationality.The Italian foreign ministry told the AFP news agency that one of those kidnapped had dual British-Italian nationality.
Hostile environmentHostile environment
A search involving the Ethiopian police and army is under way in the Afar desert region, close to the Eritrean border and one of the hottest and most barren areas of the world. Bandits and rebel groups operate there.A search involving the Ethiopian police and army is under way in the Afar desert region, close to the Eritrean border and one of the hottest and most barren areas of the world. Bandits and rebel groups operate there.
The owner of travel company Origins Ethiopia, Samson Teshombe, received a call from one of the seven French nationals thought to have been kidnapped, who said they were safe and well.
Whitehall officials earlier told the BBC there was "a national security dimension" to British group's disappearance.Whitehall officials earlier told the BBC there was "a national security dimension" to British group's disappearance.
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the British government was working with Ethiopian authorities who were "doing all they can to ensure that the situation is resolved peacefully".UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the British government was working with Ethiopian authorities who were "doing all they can to ensure that the situation is resolved peacefully".
The government emergency planning committee Cobra met on Friday to discuss the issue.The government emergency planning committee Cobra met on Friday to discuss the issue.
More intrepid visitors to the Afar region like to tour the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth known for its salt mines and active volcanoes.More intrepid visitors to the Afar region like to tour the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth known for its salt mines and active volcanoes.
Tourists are advised to travel there with an armed guard.Tourists are advised to travel there with an armed guard.
Have you visited the Afar region? Have you taken part in a similar expedition? Send us your experiences using the form below.Have you visited the Afar region? Have you taken part in a similar expedition? Send us your experiences using the form below.
You can also email your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124.You can also email your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124.
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
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