Hundreds protest against kidnap, killings of foreigners in Yemen

Jun 29, 2009, 10:24 GMT

Sana'a, Yemen - Hundreds of people took to the street in Sana'a on Monday to denounce the kidnap of nine foreigners and the killing of three in north-western Yemen.

They gathered at the Sabeen parade square and marched to the German embassy waving German and South Korean flags and banners written in German, Arabic and English condemning the kidnap.

'No for kidnapping,' read one placard. Others read: 'No for terrorism,' and 'Release the hostages,' and 'No for kidnapping and killing innocent people.'

A German family of five and British engineer were taken at gunpoint along with two German theology students and a South Korean teacher while on a weekend excursion in the restive province of Saada on June 12.

The bodies of the two German women and the South Korean teacher were later found in Akwan in the Wadi Nushur area east of Saada three days after the kidnapping.

The fate of the German family and the British engineer is still unknown as army and security forces continue combing vast mountainous and desert areas in northern Yemen.

The protest was organized by the Yemeni Tourism Union, which is led by Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, the nephew of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In a speech during the protest, Yahya urged the Yemeni government to 'consider the three victims as martyrs of duty.'

No tribal or political group has yet claimed responsibility or made demands.

Last week, Information Minister Hassan al-Lawzi said police were questioning more than 40 suspects over the kidnappings.