Suspected Yemeni murderer holding Italian security agent

Sana’a: A Yemeni man wanted in cases of murder and banditry is behind the weekend kidnapping of an Italian embassy security agent in Sana’a, the interior ministry said on its website.

The ministry said late Monday that Ali Nasser Huraidkan, from Al Jalal tribe in Yemen’s eastern Marib province, has abducted the Italian who is being held by tribesmen from the region known for carrying out such abductions.

Huraidkan, wanted for his involvement in “cases of murder and banditry”, kidnapped the Italian to press authorities to drop charges against him and to offer him compensation, the ministry said.

Security services will work on his release “as soon as possible”, it added.

A Yemeni security official and a Western diplomat had said that unknown gunmen kidnapped the Italian on Sunday.

The kidnapping was confirmed by a foreign ministry spokesman in Rome.

Italian media reports on Tuesday identified the kidnapped man as Alessandro Spadotto.

According to La Stampa newspaper, Spodatto is 29 years old, unmarried, and has managed to get in touch with a member of his family via a mobile text message following his kidnapping.