AFTER ALMOST A WEEK-LONG CAPTIVITY, JAPANESE HOSTAGE RELEASED

SANA'A, Nov. 24 (Saba) - The Japanese hostage who was kidnapped by
tribesmen in the district of Arhab, Sana'a, early last week, has
been released in Yemen after almost a week in captivity.

The release of the engineer Takyu Nashimo, 63, came after major
efforts by the authorities and tribal elders and people.

Shortly after his release, the engineer was met in Sana'a by
governor Noman Duwaid and Japan's envoy to Yemen Masakazu Toshikage.

The Japanese embassy has thanked Yemen and all who contributed to
the release for their care of foreigners and their safety.

Duwaid said the release came though the demands of the kidnappers
were not met.

The kidnappers' main demand was to release a detainee held by the
authorities four years ago on links to al-Qaeda.

The demand was an exploitation byitself, Duwaid said, affirming the
al-Qaeda suspect would not be released but under a court verdict.

The kidnappers also tried to further exploit the situation, saying
after the hostage was taken to the district of Arhab that al-Qaeda
took him to Jawf province in northeast Yemen, Duwaid added.

Suspect Hussein Abdullah Hussein Joub was said to have fought in
Iraq against international troops who invaded Iraq in 2003.

Information also said that he traveled to Lebanon and Syria and
lived with militants.

He was arrested as was back home coming from Iraq.

The foreigner engineer worked for a Japanese cooperative mission
overseeing the implementation of a Japanese aid program.

He was abducted on Sunday while on his way to the worksite, a school
project funded by the JICA.

FR