Tuesday 24 November 2009

Japanese engineer released in Yemen

By Ashwaq Arrabyee

Japanese Engineer kidnapped by Yemeni tribesmen last week was released late Monday , official sources said.

The mediation committing formed of a number of Tribal sheikhs secured the release of the Japanese hostage, Takeo Mashimo, through extensive negotiations, Sana’a Governor, Noman Dowaid, said.

Mediators said the release came after the tribal sheikhs promised the kidnappers to follow up releasing their clansman who is held by the authority and handed them over 10Kalashnikov rifles as a guarantee.

The 63-year-old Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo, was kidnapped during a working visit to the Arhab district November 16, northeast of Sana'a, by tribesmen seeking to exchange him for one of their relative, Hussein Abdullah Goub, being held by police and sentenced to four years in prison over alleged Al Qaeda ties.

Takeo Mashimo is employed by a Tokyo-based consultancy working on the construction of an elementary school funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

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