Dutch Couple Kidnapped in Yemen

A Dutch couple have been kidnapped by Yemeni tribesmen whilst driving in the capital, Sanaa. They are now being held in a remote part of the al-Siraj mountains.

Later, the leader of the al-Siraj tribe claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

"We talked to the mayor and the government and everyone important," Sheikh Nasser al-Siraj told AP.

"But no-one listens. So this way we will put pressure on our government and finally get justice."

Ah, a classic Muslim, Arab take on justice - 'do as we want, or we'll be very, very violent.'

The woman and her husband, who works for a water company, were apparently taken to exert pressure on the Yemeni Government over compensation for tribesmen injured in a shoot-out with police.

The Dutch woman spoke to AP reporters yesterday, saying:

"It was a very classical kidnapping situation," she said. "We were offered lunch and tea, and were allowed to take a walk and take pictures."

"It's such an adventure - that's the only way to cope with it," she added, predicting that they would be freed in a day.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of its citizens had been kidnapped, but would not release any further information.

'Bit of an adventure' - she sounds like another Yvonne Ridley, although I suppose they have to get through it somehow.

Hopefully they will be released soon, as were a group of Germans seized in similar circumstances in December 2008.

However, violence has recently stepped up in the country, with suspected al-Qaeda militants murdering South Korean tourists.