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Kidnap Britons 'held by rebels' Ethiopia kidnap vehicle recovered
(1 day later)
Reports that UK embassy staff kidnapped in Ethiopia are in the hands of Afar separatist rebels are being investigated, the Foreign Office says. British Embassy officials in Ethiopia are retrieving one of the damaged cars used by colleagues who went missing in the north of the country 10 days ago.
The group, comprising four Britons, one French citizen and eight Ethiopians, disappeared eight days ago. They will use a pick-up truck to bring back the Land Rover from Hamedali, in the remote Afar region near Eritrea, to Mekele in northern Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Foreign Minister says the staff are being held in the area of the Danakil Depression. The Foreign Office says investigations are continuing into the kidnapping.
But the Foreign Office said it could not to confirm this and the kidnappers had not made contact. But so far there has been no sign of the four Britons, one French citizen and their Ethiopian staff.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the party was in the Afar region, which covers areas on both sides of Eritrea and Ethiopia border. Danakil Depression
We have had indications that there are people who are saying that the hostages are OK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett The vehicle, which had a grenade thrown into the passenger side door, is one of three used by the group.
He said they were "safe and well" but did not know who the kidnappers were. All were damaged by shrapnel or an explosion when the group were kidnapped in a night- time raid on their camp.
The Foreign Office says it is investigating reports that the kidnappers are Afar separatist rebels.
The Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin says the staff are being held in the area of the Danakil Depression.
He said the party was in the Afar region, which covers areas on both sides of the Eritrean- Ethiopian border.
Mr Mesfin 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.
'Unharmed and safe'
The state-run Ethiopian News Agency said five of the eight Ethiopians who were with the kidnapped group were found near the Eritrean border on 3 March.
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, UK 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.
"Obviously the issue of where they are is still something that is having to be looked at."
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
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.
The UK Foreign Office said it was satisfied the Eritrean government had no part in the abduction and that it was co-operating with the search.The UK Foreign Office 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.