Search expands for 5 Germans and Briton kidnapped in Yemen

SAADA, June 17 (Saba) - The security forces in three other provinces
have joined the search for six foreigners whose their status is
still unknown after three bodies of three fellow female captives
were found in Saada on Monday.

Yemeni authorities are using helicopters combing various parts of
Saada and neighboring parts in the provinces of Amran, Hajjah and
Jawf.

Yemen is doing all it can to determine the fate of the foreigners
abducted and bring the captors to justice, saying kidnappers not
only are killing innocents but also targeting Yemen.

Three bodies were found on Monday in Yemen's province of Saada which
the authorities said were of two German nurses and a South Korean
teacher.

The three were among a group of nine foreigners kidnapped in the
province on Friday.

None has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings and slayings.

Earlier, the authorities accused the Houthi rebels of kidnapping the
foreigners.

On Tuesday, Germany said al-Qaeda might be behind the kidnappings
and killings.

The country's intelligence services said the slayings bore the
hallmarks of al-Qaeda.

The abducted included seven Germans including three children, a
Briton engineer aged 45 and South Korean teacher.

Yesterday, Yemen offered YER 50 million for information leading to
the arrest of the kidnappers.