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Ecuador says freed foreign tourists are 'in good spirits' Ecuador says freed foreign tourists are 'in good spirits'
(about 3 hours later)
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. 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.
The pair – named by Ecuadorean officials as Katherine Cox, a 23-year-old Briton, and Fiona Wilde, a 32-year-old Australian – are "in good spirits", according to Jose Serrano in a series of tweets. The pair – named by Ecuadorean officials as Kathryn Cox, a 23-year-old Briton, and Fiona Wilde, a 32-year-old Australian, are "in good spirits", according to José Serrano in a series of tweets.
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". Police and armed forces are continuing their search to find the delincuentes – criminals or bandits – responsible. Serrano said the women were "in good condition". The Foreign Office in London confirmed the women's identities and that they had been rescued. A spokesperson said: "We are very pleased to be able to confirm that Kathryn Sara Cox, who was kidnapped in a remote part of Sucumbios province, Ecuador, on Friday 28 September has been found today: 30 September. She, along with an Australian national, was found following an intensive search of the area by the police and military.
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." "She is now in the care of Ecuadorean and UK officials, and her health and safety is our top priority. We are giving full consular assistance to both her and her family.
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. "We are grateful to the Ecuadorean authorities for recovering Kathryn and her companion, and are working with them to establish the facts of what happened and who was responsible."
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 pair were abducted while travelling by canoe in a group of seven – 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 carried out by a Colombian group.
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. Consular officers have been in regular contact with the woman's family in Australia." The incident is likely to make the Foreign Office consider strengthening its travel advice for the region. It already warns that Colombian guerrilla groups and criminal gangs have influence in all areas of Sucumbios. In July 2002, a British oil worker and his driver were kidnapped and later killed.
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. 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 to provide consular assistance," said a spokeswoman. Consular officers have been in regular contact with the woman's family in Australia.
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. 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.
Australian government travel advice for the area "strongly advises" its citizens not to go 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.