5 Italian Hostages Released by Kidnappers
By AHMED AL-HAJ, Associated Press Writer
MARIB, Yemen -- Yemeni tribal kidnappers on Friday freed five Italian hostages they took captive six days ago and surrendered to security forces, a deputy provincial governor said.
The five Italians were in good health and will be flown by helicopter to the Yemeni capital of San'a, said Adnan Abu Lehoum, deputy governor of Marib province.
Tribal mediator Jebal Teanan confirmed the three Italian women and two men were safe. In Rome, an Italian Foreign Ministry official also confirmed that the hostages had been freed. He had no details and spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.
There was no immediate word on what led the kidnappers to release the tourists and surrender. The government had deployed a large number of troops and helicopters around the kidnappers' hideout in the Sirwah mountains in the past few days. Officials had also cut off water supplies to the area.
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