Yemen negotiates with kidnappers

A Yemeni police official said today that the Yemeni authorities are negotiating with the kidnappers of a Russian citizen in order to set him free.

The source was quoted as saying that negotiations are under way with the Mahoul tribe in al-Mariqisha province, in southern Yemen to guarantee the release of the Russian, who was kidnapped by a Yemeni police officer, who handed him to the cheif of the tribe. A Yemeni official said the Russian citizen works for a Marine company on Abin, 150 km east of Aden.