Yemen- Two American tourists were kidnapped Monday morning by tribesmen in al-Haymah district, about 45 kilometers west of Sana’a.
A source told Yemen Observer that the two Americans were kidnapped while they were on their way from Sana’a to Manakhah. The hostages are an American couple in their thirties who were staying at Burj al-Salam Hotel in Sana’a. They live and work in Dubai, and were visiting Yemen for the weekend. They arrived yesterday to the hotel and left this morning to visit Manakhah. Their trip was organized by Easy Travel Co.
The kidnappers, from the Sharda family of the Haymah tribe, are demanding that the Yemeni government release a family member from prison in Sana'a. A source with a contact in the tribe talked on condition of anonymity, affirming that the kidnappers are treating the hostages well and that they presented them with food and qat.
“The Yemeni government has deployed forces to the area to put pressure on the kidnappers. The Ministry of Interior will issue a statement later today,” said a source at the interior ministry.
