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UK team plans trip to kidnap site Kidnapped Britons' vehicles found
(about 7 hours later)
British diplomats say they are attempting to secure access to the site where five Britons were kidnapped in the Afar region of Ethiopia. A search party looking for five Britons kidnapped in northern Ethiopia have found three damaged vehicles.
The UK team is negotiating with the Ethiopian authorities, who have sealed off the kidnap zone. The vehicles, discovered in the town of Hamedali, near the Eritrean border, all appeared to have been damaged either by shrapnel or an explosion.
Another team of officials is in discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The search in the remote Afar region, which has entered its fifth day, has found no sign of the missing Britons or their Ethiopian guides.
UK embassy staff and their relatives were sightseeing with 13 Ethiopian guides when they went missing. A Foreign Office spokesman said the discovery was "distressing".
The five Britons, all UK embassy staff and their relatives, were sightseeing with 13 Ethiopian guides when they went missing in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Eritrea has denied claims its forces took them over the disputed border, which is close to where the party disappeared.Eritrea has denied claims its forces took them over the disputed border, which is close to where the party disappeared.
Officials 'working hard' Negotiations
A team of UK officials is in the remote town of Berahle, about 37 miles (60km) from the abduction site. The UK search team negotiated via satellite phone from the village of Berahle, about 37 miles (60km) from Hamedali, to gain access to the kidnap site.
The BBC's Adam Mynott, also in the town, said the diplomats were attempting to gain clearance to visit the site, which is a four-hour drive away. The BBC's Adam Mynott said one of the discovered cars had eight shrapnel holes in the driver's door, while a Land Rover had evidence of a small explosion inside the passenger seat.
The state-run Ethiopian News Agency said five of the Ethiopians who were with the kidnapped group were found near the Eritrean border late on Saturday. The search team is checking the vehicles for evidence
It was not clear whether they had escaped or were released. A third car, belonging to the local administration, was much more badly damaged, he said.
British diplomats were carrying out interviews with witnesses in the area in an effort to find out what happened.
One claimed "around 50 men" came into the Britons' camp in Hamedali on the night of the kidnap.
A foreign office spokesman said it was "distressing to see" the vehicles and said it "highlighted the seriousness of the situation".
"Our staff in Addis Ababa and London continue to work round the clock in finding out what has happened," he said.
Media 'restraint needed'
A statement from the British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Robert Dewar, asked for "restraint" in media reporting of information about the kidnapping and appealed for further information.
The group "may be they have been victims of mistaken identity", he said, but embassy officials stood "ready to hear from anyone with information relating to the group's disappearance".
He added: "My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those involved.
"They are husbands, fathers and sons; wives, mothers and daughters. Their families miss them terribly and want them home."
I would not rule out that this is some kind of staged drama cooked up by the regime in Addis Ababa Ali AbdulEritrean information minister 'I was kidnapped in Afar' Tourism in EthiopiaI would not rule out that this is some kind of staged drama cooked up by the regime in Addis Ababa Ali AbdulEritrean information minister 'I was kidnapped in Afar' Tourism in Ethiopia
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. Head of the Afar region Ismael Ali Sero earlier said the 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.
"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."
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.
Kidnapping denied
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.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.
The area is one of hottest places on Earth (picture: Sam Vader) The state-run Ethiopian News Agency said five of the Ethiopians who were with the kidnapped group were found near the Eritrean border late on Saturday.
Yemane Gebremeskel, of Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki's office, said Mr Ismael's claim was "crazy". It was not clear whether they had escaped or were released.
But Yemane Gebremeskel, of Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki's office, said Mr Ismael's claim that Eritrean troops were responsible was "crazy".
"No-one is involved in any business of kidnapping," he told the AFP news agency."No-one is involved in any business of kidnapping," he told the AFP news agency.
Eritrea's Information Minister Ali Abdul also denied allegations that his government was responsible for the kidnappings.Eritrea's Information Minister Ali Abdul also denied allegations that his government was responsible for the kidnappings.
"They have that kind of habit, to blame Eritrea for whatever things that happen. I would not rule out that this is some kind of staged drama cooked up by the regime in Addis Ababa," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme."They have that kind of habit, to blame Eritrea for whatever things that happen. I would not rule out that this is some kind of staged drama cooked up by the regime in Addis Ababa," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
The remote Afar desert appeals to adventure travellers
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".
It was more likely a local rebel group had abducted the Britons.
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.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.
But bandits and rebel groups operate there and travellers are advised to travel with an armed guard.But bandits and rebel groups operate there and travellers are advised to travel with an armed guard.