June 13, 2009 - The Daily Star - Yemen Tribesman Release 24 Medics Abducted

Yemeni tribesman release 24 medics abducted a day earlier


SANAA: Yemeni tribesmen on Friday released unharmed a group of 24 doctors and nurses they abducted a day earlier, demanding the authorities release two prisoners, a government official said. The medics, most of whom were Yemenis but also included one Egyptian, two Indians and two Filipinos, were working at a Saudi-backed hospital in the northern Saada region, the official said.
Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, is struggling with an on-off revolt in the north, a secessionist movement in the south and intensified Al-Qaeda militancy.

Saada is where in 2004, tribesmen led by members of the Houthi family began an intermittent rebellion against the government, in protest at what they say is economic and religious discrimination.

The government official said the medics were traveling on a hospital bus at the time of their abduction, adding that the tribesmen decided to release the group after being given guarantees from the government that their demands would be met.

Tribesmen often kidnap Western tourists in Yemen to press the government into providing better services and living conditions.

Most foreigners abducted in Yemen are released unharmed, but in 2000 a Norwegian was killed in crossfire and in 1998 four Westerners were killed during a botched attempt to free them from Islamist militants who had seized 16 tourists.

In March, a Dutch couple were kidnapped at gunpoint by tribesmen but were released two weeks later unharmed.