German minister in Yemen, hostages likely an issue

Sana’a: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met with Yemen's president in talks Monday likely dealing with the fate of a missing German family reportedly held hostage by Al Qaida.

Westerwelle held talks with President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Qirbi. Their were no details on the visit and Yemeni officials had no immediate comment on the meeting.

A German couple and their three young children went missing in June along with a Briton in the northern region of Saada. Two German women and a Korean woman who disappeared with them were found dead soon after.

Yemen accused Al Qaida's offshoot there of kidnapping the group. Last week, Yemen's deputy prime minister said the hostages are still alive.

Westerwelle made his unannounced trip to Yemen following a visit to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.