Tourists kidnapped in remote Ethiopian desert

A NUMBER of European tourists have been kidnapped in the remote desert of northern Ethiopia.

The French Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday that Western tourists have been kidnapped in Ethiopia, but declined to say how many or indicate their nationalities.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said officials believe French citizens were among those seized in Ethiopia.

The tourists were in four-vehicle convoy in Dalol, 500 miles northeast of Addis Ababa, travelling to salt mines in the Afar region, when they were kidnapped late on Thursday, a businessman and a tour operator who work in the area said. The British Foreign Office said that five Britons missing and feared kidnapped are members of staff from the UK embassy in Addis Ababa or relatives of staff.

Ethiopia’s government spokesman, Zemedkun Tekle, said officials were struggling to confirm the reports because the region is so remote.

Bandits and a small Afar rebel group operate in the area, which is known for its difficult terrain and has an average annual temperature of 34C, but it often gets much hotter.

The tour operator said the tourists were clients of Origins Ethiopia, a new tour agency specialising in Afar, and company officials told him that they have been unable to contact the tourists.