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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Kidnap Britons 'seen' in Eritrea | Kidnap Britons 'seen' in Eritrea |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Reports that UK embassy staff kidnapped in Ethiopia are in the hands of Afar separatist rebels are being investigated, the Foreign Office says. | Reports that UK embassy staff kidnapped in Ethiopia are in the hands of Afar separatist rebels are being investigated, the Foreign Office says. |
| The Ethiopian foreign minister said the four Britons, one French citizen and eight Ethiopians were being held in the area of the Danakil Depression. | The Ethiopian foreign minister said the four Britons, one French citizen and eight Ethiopians were being held in the area of the Danakil Depression. |
| They were sightseeing in the Afar region near Eritrea when they went missing on 1 March. | They were sightseeing in the Afar region near Eritrea when they went missing on 1 March. |
| BBC correspondent Adam Mynott says the latest reports are yet to be verified. | BBC correspondent Adam Mynott says the latest reports are yet to be verified. |
| Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the party was in the Afar region, which covers areas on both sides of Eritrea and Ethiopia border. | Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the party was in the Afar region, which covers areas on both sides of Eritrea and Ethiopia border. |
| We have had indications that there are people who are saying that the hostages are OK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett | We have had indications that there are people who are saying that the hostages are OK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett |
| He said they were "safe and well" but did not know who the kidnappers were. | |
| "We cannot disclose the place where they are because we believe that this will endanger their safety," he added. | "We cannot disclose the place where they are because we believe that this will endanger their safety," he added. |
| According to a community leader, information about the kidnapped group was passed on by nomadic herders in Eritrea. | According to a community leader, information about the kidnapped group was passed on by nomadic herders in Eritrea. |
| Reuters quoted Ismeal Ali Gardo, co-founder of the Afar Pastoralists Development Association, as saying the group was "unharmed and safe" and being held in the Eritrean border town of Wayeme by the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front. | Reuters quoted Ismeal Ali Gardo, co-founder of the Afar Pastoralists Development Association, as saying the group was "unharmed and safe" and being held in the Eritrean border town of Wayeme by the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front. |
| Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the government was looking into the reports of the sighting. | Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the government was looking into the reports of the sighting. |
| "We have had indications that there are people who are saying that the hostages are OK. | "We have had indications that there are people who are saying that the hostages are OK. |
| "Obviously the issue of where they are is still something that is having to be looked at." | "Obviously the issue of where they are is still something that is having to be looked at." |
| Eritrean denial | Eritrean denial |
| Vehicles used by the party were found in the town of Hamedali near the border on Monday - all appeared to have been damaged either by shrapnel or an explosion. | Vehicles used by the party were found in the town of Hamedali near the border on Monday - all appeared to have been damaged either by shrapnel or an explosion. |
| Vehicles used by the party were found in the town of Hamedali | Vehicles used by the party were found in the town of Hamedali |
| The missing Europeans are either British embassy staff, or relatives of officials. Three are Britons, one has joint Italian-British nationality, and the other is French. | The missing Europeans are either British embassy staff, or relatives of officials. Three are Britons, one has joint Italian-British nationality, and the other is French. |
| An Eritrean government spokesman denied the embassy staff were in the country. | An Eritrean government spokesman denied the embassy staff were in the country. |
| "We understand the concern of the families, but this event happened inside Ethiopia and it is taking place inside Ethiopia," Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu told Reuters. | "We understand the concern of the families, but this event happened inside Ethiopia and it is taking place inside Ethiopia," Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu told Reuters. |
| Eritrea had previously denied claims its forces took them over the disputed border. | Eritrea had previously denied claims its forces took them over the disputed border. |
| The UK Foreign Office said it could not confirm the latest reports. | The UK Foreign Office said it could not confirm the latest reports. |
| But a spokesperson said it was satisfied the Eritrean government had no part in the abduction and that it was co-operating with the search. | But a spokesperson said it was satisfied the Eritrean government had no part in the abduction and that it was co-operating with the search. |
| Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following a 30-year guerrilla war and relations between the two countries have been strained since. | Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following a 30-year guerrilla war and relations between the two countries have been strained since. |