Global General

German minister in Yemen, hostages likely an issue

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-11 19:03
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SAN'A, Yemen: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met with Yemen's president in talks Monday likely dealing with the fate of a missing German family reportedly held hostage by al-Qaida.

German minister in Yemen, hostages likely an issue
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle talks to his Yemeni counterpart Abu-Bakr al-Qerbi during a news briefing in Sanaa.[Agencies]German minister in Yemen, hostages likely an issue

Westerwelle held talks with President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi. Their were no details on the visit and Yemeni officials had no immediate comment on the meeting.

A German couple and their three young children went missing in June along with a Briton in the northern region of Saada. Two German women and a Korean woman who disappeared with them were found dead soon after.

Yemen accused al-Qaida's offshoot there of kidnapping the group. Last week, Yemen's deputy prime minister said the hostages are still alive.

Westerwelle made his unannounced trip to Yemen following a visit to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.