LOC11:36
08:36 GMT
DETAINED POLISH AMBSASSADOR FREED
SANNA, MARCH 5 (KUNA) -- THE POLISH AMBASSADOR TO YEMEN WHO WAS DETAINED BY
A TRIBE WAS SET FREE EARLY ON SUNDAY AS A RESULT OF MEDIATION BY SOME TRIBAL
LEADERS, INFORMED SOURCES SAID.
THE SOURCES SAID KRZYSZTOF SUPROWICZ, WHO WAS KIDNAPPED BY TRIBESMEN LAST
WEDNESDAY, WAS SET FREE UNHARMED.
THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL WORD FROM THE YEMENI AUTHORITIES OR THE POLISH
EMBASSY, BUT REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE YEMENI SECURITY FORCES WERE
SURROUNDING THE HIDEOUT WHERE THE DIPLOMAT HAD BEEN HELD.
POLAND HAD WARNED THAT IT WOULD CONSIDER CLOSURE OF ITS EMBASSY IN YEMEN AS
A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.
TRIBAL SOURCES HAD REPORTED THAT THE AMBASSADOR WAS RELEASED BY THE
KIDNAPPERS ONLY TO BE DETAINED MINUTES LATER AFTER NOTICING GOVERNMENT TROOPS
MOVEMENT. THEY WANTED A JAILED COMRADE TO BE RELEASED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE
POLISH HOSTAGE'S FREEDOM.
MORE THAN 200 FOREIGNERS, MOSTLY WESTERNERS, HAVE BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY
TRIBESMEN SINCE EARLY 1990S.
THE LAST KIDNAPPING IN YEMEN INVOLVED AN AMERICAN OIL WORKER WHO WAS FREED
LAST FEBRUARY 10 AFTER TWO WEEKS IN CAPTIVITY.
FIVE POLISH TOURISTS WERE DETAINED IN A VILLAGE IN 1996, AND WERE FREED A
FEW DAYS LATER AFTER THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED AID TO THE VILLAGE. (END)
YH.RK
KUNA 051136 Mar 00NNNN