Aid workers kidnapped by tribesmen freed in southern Yemen

ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Armed tribesmen released Thursday three Red Cross workers including a French national, who were kidnapped earlier this week in Yemen's southern province of Lahj, a security official said.


A French woman of Moroccan origin working for the International Committee of the Red Cross along with another staff member and their Yemeni driver were released this morning, the local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.


"Military officials and powerful tribesmen conducted negotiations with the kidnappers and secured the release of the French woman along with the Yemeni workers," he said.


A group of armed tribesmen intercepted a vehicle from the Red Cross organization on Tuesday evening and kidnapped the three people aboard, who were delivering food to refugees in the Musimeer district in Lahj.


Yemen has long suffered from a common phenomenon of kidnapping foreigners by powerful tribesmen to press the government to meet their demands, including releasing jailed clansmen.