Japanese engineer released by Yemeni tribesmen
A Japanese engineer seized by Yemeni tribesmen seeking to swap him for a prisoner with Al Qaida links has been released after a week in captivity.
Sana'a, Yemen: A Japanese engineer seized by Yemeni tribesmen seeking to swap him for a prisoner with Al Qaida links has been released after a week in captivity.
Takeo Mashimo returned on Monday to the capital, Sana'a, after a day of negotiations between the tribesmen and Yemeni authorities, said Matahiro Yamaguchi, the Japanese Embassy's deputy chief of mission.
Mashimo was in good health and was received by the Japanese ambassador and the governor of Sana'a, Yamaguchi said.
Mashimo thanked the government's negotiating team and the tribesmen for letting him go and recounted his ordeal in comments televised in Japan.
Mashimo and a driver were on the way to the construction site of a school about 20 kilometresnortheast of the capital when both were kidnapped on November 15.
They were surrounded by several gunmen and forced to move to three locations while in captivity.
Despite the kidnapping, however, Mashimo said that after recuperating in Japan he will return to Yemen and resume the school project, which is due to be completed at the end of January.
"It would like to relax for a while, perhaps go to a hot springs resort," he said. "But I want to come back to see our project through to the end."
Mashimo was taken by armed men from the Arhab tribe. One of its leaders, Sheik Nazih Al Hanaq, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the tribe kidnapped him in an attempt to force the government to release one of its members from prison - a common tactic by powerful tribes in large parts of Yemen where the central government has little or no control.
The Interior Ministry said last week that the imprisoned tribesman, Hussain Abdullah Qoob, has links to Al Qaida. It said he fought in Iraq for two years and was arrested four years ago.
Most kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen are by disgruntled tribesmen hoping to wrangle concessions from the government - including ransoms, the release of jailed relatives, or even promises to build local infrastructure.
Hostages are typically well treated and released unharmed.
