Yemeni mediation to release the hostages

Leaders of Yemeni tribes on Monday began mediation with those who hold western hostages in the Yemeni province of Sa'dah.

The AFP quoted a tribal official as saying that the chairman of the Yemeni Parliament, Abdullah Hussein al-Ahmar, who is from the "Hashed" tribe in Sa'dah district where the kidnapping operation took place, sent his son on Sunday to take part in the mediation.

The governor of Sa'dah province, Ali al-Qeisi said that hostages, four Dutch and two British citizens, were taken to Jawf mountainous area, 180 km north of Sanaa.

Yemeni security forces were dispatched to the region in an attempt to release the hostages.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry said on Sunday in a statement that the six foreign hostages were kidnapped while they were in their car traveling from Sa'dah to Sanaa.

Al-Qeisi stated that the Yemeni authorities are working for the release of the hostages as soon as possible. On the other hand, another local Yemeni official said the Yemeni authorities asked, prior to the said kidnapping operation, members of foreign diplomatic missions and workers recruited in Yemen to notify the official authorities about their moves between the capital Sanaa and other parts of the country so that the authorities will be able to take necessary measures to ensure their safety.