Ethiopia's prime minister said Monday five Europeans abducted in
one of the country's most remote, inhospitable regions, were not
specifically targeted and called for their immediate release.
Meles Zenawi said his officials have a "good idea" of the
whereabouts of the five, all of whom worked for or were relatives
of employees of the British Embassy in Ethiopia, and that their
captors had made no demands.
"I hope and expect they will be released at the earliest
opportunity," Meles said in his first public comments on the
kidnapping since they were seized 12 days ago. "This is a group of
people who have not done anything to hurt anybody. I think this may
have been a mistake on the part of the individuals (captors)
involved."
The hostages, three British men, an Anglo-Italian and a French
woman, were on a tourist trip to the remote Afar region of
northeastern Ethiopia when they were taken captive. They were
seized at gunpoint with 13 Ethiopians. Five of the Ethiopians are
believed to have escaped or been released.
They were "at the wrong place at the wrong time," the prime
minister added.
"All I can say at the moment is we have a pretty good idea where
these people are. We do not have any specific demand from any of
the personalities involved," he added.
"Nobody has so far claimed responsibility. To some extent that
might be a positive thing."
Their Toyota Land Cruiser and a Land Rover Discovery, which had
diplomatic plates, were discovered on March 5 riddled with bullet
holes and grenade shrapnel.
The 4x4s still contained the victims' luggage, as well as shoes
and mobile phones, when they were found in Hamedali, the last
staging post before the region's famous salt lakes. The items found
inside suggested robbery was not a motive.
Meles refused to go into details on where the hostages were
being held, saying he did not want to jeopardize their safety.
"So far they are safe and well. I expect that they will be kept
safe and well."
While the region's ancient salt mines and volcanoes offer a
spectacular, moonlike landscape, bandits operate in Afar and
tourists must have armed guides.
Afar is also close to the disputed border between Ethiopia and
archrival Eritrea, an area littered with land mines from numerous
conflicts in the region.
(China Daily via agencies March 13, 2007)
