Nine hostages found dead in Yemen

NINE missing foreigners in Yemen, including three children, have been murdered, said a Yemeni official yesterday, apparently executed by their kidnappers in the impoverished nation in the Arabian peninsula where al-Qaida has a strong presence.

The nine foreigners,including seven Germannationals, a Briton and a South Korean, disappeared last week while on a picnic in the restive northern Saada region of Yemen.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, announced the discovery of the remaining six bodies last night after three others had been found mutilated earlier in the day.