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Hunt for kidnap victims continues 'Progress' in Afar kidnap search
(about 4 hours later)
The Ethiopian and UK governments are continuing their search for five British people kidnapped four days ago. UK officials say progress is being made "behind the scenes" in the search for five Britons kidnapped four days ago in the Afar region of northern Ethiopia.
Eritrea has denied claims its forces snatched them in Ethiopia and marched them to a military camp in Eritrea. Eritrea denies claims its forces took them over the disputed border.
The Foreign Office did not confirm the report, and the Ethiopian ambassador to the UK refused to "finger point". Neither the UK Foreign Office nor the Ethiopian ambassador in the UK have commented on who may be responsible.
The embassy staff and their relatives were sightseeing along with 13 Ethiopian guides near the disputed border when they all went missing. The embassy staff and their relatives were sightseeing along with 13 Ethiopian guides near the border when they all went missing.
But the state-run Ethiopian News Agency is reporting that five of the Ethiopians - working as drivers and translators - were found near the Eritrean border late on Saturday. The state-run Ethiopian News Agency is reporting that five of the Ethiopians - working as drivers and translators - were found near the Eritrean border late on Saturday.
It was not clear whether they had escaped or were released.It was not clear whether they had escaped or were released.
It is thought the tourist group stopped in the remote town of Berahle shortly before they were abducted about 37 miles (60km) from there, said the BBC's Amber Henshaw.
It doesn't seem to be in the Eritrean government's interest at all to be engaged in anything like this David BamfordAfrica editor, BBC World Service 'I was kidnapped in Afar' Tourism in Ethiopia
Speaking from the town our correspondent said officials were saying very little, but did confirm "some progress" was being made.
Foreign Office Minister Geoff Hoon told ITV1's The Sunday Edition that the department was "working as hard as we possibly can" to resolve the situation.Foreign Office Minister Geoff Hoon told ITV1's The Sunday Edition that the department was "working as hard as we possibly can" to resolve the situation.
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/uk/6415697.stm">'I was kidnapped in Afar' class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/3958047.stm">Tourism in Ethiopia "It is a matter of grave importance... as it would be with any British tourist," he said.
"It is a matter of grave importance...as it would be with any British tourist," he said. "But obviously staff in the Foreign Office feel particularly strongly because it is their people."
"But obviously staff in the Foreign Office feel particularly strongly because it is their people, their families, and a great deal of effort is being made to secure their freedom."
Ismael Ali Sero, head of the Afar region in the north of Ethiopia, said cars used by the sightseers were set on fire in the early-morning raid on their camp, about 800km (500 miles) north-east of Addis Ababa.
He said about 25 Eritreans in military uniform marched the group 12-18 miles (20-30 km) to the town of Waime in Eritrea.
Money, mobile and satellite phones were also stolen, he added.
A senior Ethiopian official in the ruling party, who asked not to be named, said a herder saw the British group at the Ara-ta military camp in Eritrea and reported it to the Ethiopians.
Peace dealPeace deal
Head of the Afar region Ismael Ali Sero said cars used by the sightseers were set on fire in the early-morning raid on their camp, about 800km (500 miles) north-east of Addis Ababa.
He said about 25 Eritreans in military uniform marched the group 12-18 miles (20-30 km) to Waime in Eritrea, and a local herder reportedly saw them at the Ara-ta military camp in Eritrea.
But Berharnu Kebede, Ethiopian ambassador to the UK, said: "We are not in the business of finger pointing at any group or individual or any country.But Berharnu Kebede, Ethiopian ambassador to the UK, said: "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.""For us the priority is to secure the safe return of these people."
Yemane Gebremeskel, the director of Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki's office, said Mr Ismael's claim was "crazy". Yemane Gebremeskel, 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. "No one is involved in any business of kidnapping," he told the AFP news agency.
The area is one of hottest places on Earth (picture: Sam Vader)The area is one of hottest places on Earth (picture: Sam Vader)
A peace deal was struck in 2000 but the two countries have yet to define the status of the border, patrolled by UN observers.A peace deal was struck in 2000 but the two countries have yet to define the status of the border, patrolled by UN observers.
The BBC World Service's Africa Editor, David Bamford, said the claims of Eritrean involvement were being met with scepticism.The BBC World Service's Africa Editor, David Bamford, said the claims of Eritrean involvement were being met with scepticism.
"It doesn't seem to be in the Eritrean government's interest at all to be engaged in anything like this.""It doesn't seem to be in the Eritrean government's interest at all to be engaged in anything like this."
He said the allegations were coming from local party officials in Ethiopia, who could be seen as having an "axe to grind".He said the allegations were coming from local party officials in Ethiopia, who could be seen as having an "axe to grind".
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. If Eritrean soldiers were involved it could only be explained as a "mistake", he said.
Whitehall officials earlier told the BBC there was "a national security dimension" to the incident and the government emergency planning committee Cobra met on Friday to discuss it. It was more likely a local rebel group had abducted the Britons, but he said local internal politics and the remoteness of the region would make it difficult for British officials to establish what was going on.
Popular region Tourists visit the area mainly to see the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth known for its salt mines and active volcanoes.
The Italian foreign ministry told the AFP news agency that one of those kidnapped had dual British-Italian nationality. But bandits and rebel groups operate there and travellers are advised to travel with an armed guard.
Seven French nationals who had been thought to be among the kidnapped group are safe and well.
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.
But bandits and rebel groups operate there and tourists are advised to travel there with an armed guard.
Tony Hickey, from Ethiopia Quadrants, the tour company that arranged the Britons' trip, said local reports suggested three of his vehicles were hit by anti-tank grenade launchers in Hamed Ela near the border.
He told BBC Five Live "thousands" of foreign tourists had travelled safely in the area, which had become popular in recent years.