Kidnapped Swiss tourists released in Yemen

Switzerland's foreign ministry announced the release of the two Swiss tourists who were kidnapped yesterday, hours after their kidnapping. The ministry gave no explanations on the conditions for kidnapping of the two persons and how they were freed.

Earlier in the day, al-Jazeera satellite tv said that a tribal group in Wadi Obeida area in Mareb governorate east of the country kidnapped one Swiss tourist and his wife in order to pressure the government to free one of its members.

The correspondent said that the kidnapped couple is Brono Bayer and his wife Catherina, noting that the kidnapping operation took place in al-Jazaa area while the car carrying them was heading for Hadramout.

He explained that the driver of the car tried to maneuver in order to escape the kidnappers but they opened fire at the wheel of the car and this obstructed its movement.

Government sources said that the leader of the kidnappers who is named Hassan Hamad al-Zaman demands the release of his nephew ( 15 year old) who was jailed for steeling a car.

The official did not indicate extra more information. Other tribal sources said that the aim of the kidnapping is to pressure the government over the jailing of local tribesmen. Some 200 foreigners were kidnapped between 1991- 2001 in Yemen. In most of the cases the release operation was made peacefully, thanks to the intervention of tribal chiefs. Very often the kidnappers seek to achieve objectives of material nature.