Kidnap Britons 'found' in Eritrea

[muriel_volestrangler]

Reports British embassy staff kidnapped in Ethiopia are safe but in the hands of Afar separatist rebels are being investigated, the Foreign Office says.

Four Britons, one French citizen and eight Ethiopians are being held over the border in Eritrea, a community leader told the Reuters news agency.
...
According to Ismael Ali Gardo, co-founder of the Afar Pastoralists Development Association, information had been passed on by nomadic herders in Eritrea.

Reuters quoted him as saying the party was "unharmed and safe" and being held in the Eritrean settlement of Weima by the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front.

The UK Foreign Office said it was trying to establish exactly what "safe" meant.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6433935.stm

I'm reminded of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy scene:

"If I asked you where the hell we were," said Arthur weakly, "would I regret it?"

Ford stood up. "We're safe," he said.

"Oh good," said Arthur.

"We're in a small galley cabin," said Ford, "in one of the spaceships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet."

"Ah," said Arthur, "this is obviously some strange usage of the word safe that I wasn't previously aware of."

http://www.globusz.com/ebooks/Hitchhikers/00000016.htm

However, the headline story on this on the Reuters site is now:

Eritrea denies kidnapped Britons in its country

Eritrea denied on Friday that a group of five Europeans kidnapped in neighbouring Ethiopia had been taken to its country by Afar separatist rebels.

"We understand the concern of the families, but this event happened inside Ethiopia and it is taking place inside Ethiopia," Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu told Reuters by telephone from Asmara.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL094971220070309

The earlier Reuters report.

[bbernardini]

1. Was this the group that included Michael Moore's wife? nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Michael Moore, the director of the British Council in Ethiopia, yes

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=326722#326951

[bbernardini]

3. Thanks. His was the only name I could remember of the spouses, etc. affected.

Go figure. :)

[maddezmom]

4. Ethiopia in contact with kidnappers, rules out rescue

Ethiopia in contact with kidnappers, rules out rescue
10 Mar 2007 10:44:14 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Andrew Cawthorne

MEKELE, Ethiopia, March 10 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Saturday it was in contact with an armed group that kidnapped five European and eight locals in a remote northern region -- but ruled out a military operation to rescue them.

"Those who are responsible are being reached through different channels, and we are hoping that these people would be freed unharmed and safe," Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told reporters in the northern town of Mekele.

Amid speculation British special forces were in the area, Seyoum said a rescue mission was not being prepared.

"We still have not reached that stage. So let's rule out this option for the moment, because the safety and the security of these people is most important for us," he said.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10577043.htm