JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — A South African woman and her two children who were kidnapped on Friday in southern Yemen have been freed, foreign affairs ministry said Sunday.
"Our ambassador John Davies has informed us that the woman and her children were released last night," said spokeswoman Momfanelo Kota.
The woman and her sons aged three and six were part of a convoy travelling from the eastern region of Hadramut to the southern port city of Aden.
"The three were released unharmed, we thank the Yemen Government for assistance rendered in this matter," said Kota.
The tourists were attacked by tribesmen in Abyan province, a Yemeni source told AFP on Saturday.
According to the source, the kidnappers belonged to the Al Fadl tribe.
Local chiefs on Saturday began negotiations with the captors rather than force, in seeking the release of the three.
Tribes have abducted more than 200 foreigners over the past 15 years in attempts to extract concessions from the central government, whose writ extends with difficulty over the lawless countryside.
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