Fresh appeal to free four British hostages

Published on Tuesday 13 March 2007 01:15

ETHIOPIA'S prime minister yesterday urged the unknown kidnappers of four Britons and a French woman to give up their captives.

The Europeans - all connected to the British embassy in Addis Ababa - went missing 12 days ago during a tour of the spectacular Danakil Depression in Ethiopia's remote north-east desert region. There has so far been no direct contact with the kidnappers.

Yesterday, Meles Zenawi told a news conference in Addis Ababa that the five tourists were not the intended target and said he hoped they would be returned soon.

"First of all I believe that the individuals concerned are so far safe and well," he said.

"I hope that in time they will be home safe and well. I would hate to speculate what could happen if their safety and security were jeopardised."

The five were kidnapped by gunmen during an early morning raid on the village of Hamedelah, about 500 miles north-east of the capital. They were on a tour of the area.

It is understood that the Foreign Office is working on the theory that the tourists may have been caught up in a local dispute over the salt trade - the main source of income in a desperately poor region.

Yesterday Mr Meles said he did not know their exact location, but had a "fairly good idea" of where they were. Unconfirmed sightings suggest they are being held over the border in Eritrea.

Meanwhile, a team of British officials returned from Hamedelah towing one of the tourists' abandoned vehicles.

They had driven through the night to bring the Land Rover Defender - bearing British embassy number plates - to Mekele, the nearest city.

It had been put out of action by a hand grenade dropped through its window.