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Ecuador names freed foreign tourists Ecuador says freed foreign tourists are 'in good spirits'
(about 3 hours later)
Two women who were kidnapped in Ecuador near its border with Colombia have been rescued, the Foreign Office in London has confirmed. Two women tourists rescued from kidnappers in Ecuador near its border with Colombia are receiving medical attention in the capital Quito, the country's interior minister said on Sunday.
Ecuadorean officials have named them as 23-year-old Briton Katherine Sara Cox and 32-year-old Australian Fiona Louise Wilde, according to Sky News, although the FCO could not confirm their identity. The pair – named by Ecuadorean officials as Katherine Sara Cox, a 23-year-old Briton, and Fiona Louise Wilde, a 32-year-old Australian – are "in good spirits", according to Jose Serrano in a series of tweets.
Ecuador's interior minister, Jose Serrano, said the two women were rescued on Saturday by police and armed forces. Police and armed forces are continuing their search to find the "delincuentes", criminals or bandits. Earlier Serrano had said the women, whose names were reported on Sky News, were "in good condition".
Serrano, who tweeted their release, said they were "in good condition". The Foreign Office in London has not confirmed the women's identities. It said: "We are pleased it has been confirmed that the two women missing in Ecuador have been found and that their families have been informed."
The pair had been abducted while travelling in a canoe as part of a group of seven travellers – five foreigners and two Ecuadoreans – and two local guides in the Cuyabeno nature reserve in Sucumbios province on Friday. The other foreigners were not taken in the attack, which the BBC reported as having been by a Colombian group. The pair had been abducted while travelling by canoe in a group of seven travellers – five foreigners and two Ecuadoreans – and two local guides in the Cuyabeno nature reserve in Sucumbios province on Friday. The other foreigners were not taken in the attack, which the BBC reported as having been by a Colombian group.
The FCO was unable to confirm the names but said: "We are pleased it has been confirmed that the two women missing in Ecuador have been found and that their families have been informed." The incident is likely to make the Foregn Office consider strengthening its travel advice to the region. It already warns that Colombian guerrilla groups and criminal gangs are known to have influence in all areas of Sucumbios. In July 2002, a British oil worker and his driver were kidnapped and subsequently killed.
The incident is likely to make the government consider strengthening its travel advice to the region. It already warns that Colombian guerrilla groups and criminal gangs are known to have influence in all areas of Sucumbios. In July 2002, a British oil worker and his driver were kidnapped and subsequently killed.
Canberra's department of foreign affairs said the Australian woman was in the care of Ecuadorean authorities.Canberra's department of foreign affairs said the Australian woman was in the care of Ecuadorean authorities.
"The Australian consul from our embassy in Santiago, Chile, is travelling to Ecuador and is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon local time to provide consular assistance," said a spokeswoman."The Australian consul from our embassy in Santiago, Chile, is travelling to Ecuador and is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon local time to provide consular assistance," said a spokeswoman.
"Consular officers have been in regular contact with the woman's family in Australia.""Consular officers have been in regular contact with the woman's family in Australia."
The incident comes as Britain and Ecuador are involved in a diplomatic standoff over Julian Assange's attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning over alleged sex crimes. The WikiLeaks founder has been in the Ecuador embassy in London since June. The incident comes as Britain and Ecuador are involved in a diplomatic standoff over Julian Assange's attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning over alleged sex crimes. The WikiLeaks founder has been in Ecuador's embassy in London since June.
The Australian government's travel advice for the area "strongly advises" its citizens not to travel to Sucumbios and other north-eastern provinces because of the "very high level of serious criminal activity" . A number of foreign workers have been kidnapped, and one killed, it says. Australian government travel advice for the area "strongly advises" its citizens not to travel to Sucumbios and other north-eastern provinces because of the "very high level of serious criminal activity". A number of foreign workers have been kidnapped, and one killed, it says. It also says armed criminals have robbed travellers staying at jungle lodges in the lower Rio Napo and Cuyabeno national reserves.
It also says armed criminals have robbed travellers staying at jungle lodges in the lower Rio Napo and Cuyabeno national reserves.