Five Europeans who were kidnapped close to two weeks ago in
Ethiopia have been released into the keeping of neighboring Eritrea
and are in good health, the British government announced
Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett revealed that the three
British men, an Anglo-Italian and a French woman, who are all
British diplomats or relatives of such, were released on Tuesday
and were now safe in the British Embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean
capital.
"The five are being fed and given fresh clean clothes," Beckett
told reporters at the Foreign Office in London. "Medical checks are
ongoing, but I understand they are broadly in good health."
Yemani Gebremeskel, spokesman for the Eritrean president, did
not reveal Eritrea's part in the release, saying only that it had
used its influence with elders in the desert region where the
hostages were being held.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman welcomed the
release, extending his thanks to both Ethiopian and Eritrean
governments for their help.
British officials Tuesday lifted reporting restriction on
identifying the five. They were named as Peter Rudge, first
secretary of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa; embassy worker
Jonathan Ireland; Malcolm Smart and Laure Beaufils of the
Department for International Development; and Rosanna Moore, an
Anglo-Italian whose husband Michael Moore heads the British
Council's Ethiopia office.
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema added his "strong
satisfaction" at the release of Moore and the others.
Michael Moore, contacted in the Ethiopian capital, expressed his
joy and delight at his wife and co-workers being released. "I have
just watched the television now," he said. "At this stage I'm just
so overwhelmed I am almost in tears."
Moore said his concern now turned to the plight of eight
Ethiopians who were also seized but no indications have so far been
received about their release.
Five other Ethiopians who were also abducted had earlier managed
to escape or had been released.
Beckett said that officials "continued to be concerned for the
welfare" of the eight Ethiopians still unaccounted for.
(China Daily via agencies March 14, 2007)
