On the Belgian kidnapped tourists in Yemen
Yemen-Belgium, Local, 7/20/1999

One of the four Belgian tourists who were released on Sunday said that kidnappers wanted to release one member of their tribe who is detained in Saudi Arabia.

AFP quoted Pierre Marteneize (49) as saying after he arrived in Sanaa, "We were fearful because all the kidnappers speak only Arabic and we have had to communicate with them by signals and moves," but the hostages started to understand after their kidnappers permitted a translator sent by the travel agency which organized their trip that negotiations were being made to release them.

Marteneize added that all the kidnappers were armed, even children who are at 10 were also carrying Klashinkovs (AK-47 machine-guns), noting that the kidnappers treated them in a very good way.

Previous Stories:
  Four Belgians kidnapped in Yemen on Thursday, released   (7/19/1999)
  Yemen works to liberate Belgians kidnapped by tribesmen   (7/17/1999)
  El-Mehdar calls on followers not to launch attacks in Yemen   (6/24/1999)

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