A Japanese engineer kidnapped last week by Yemeni tribesmen has been seized by al-Qaida elements and taken to an unidentified location, News Yemen reported Saturday.
The 63-year-old Japanese engineer, who was held in a house of al-Jub tribe, was abducted by al-Qaida gunmen and might be moved to al-Jawf province, head of the tribal mediation committee, Sheikh Abdel-Jalil Sanan told the Yemeni-based website, Xinhua reported.
The engineer, who serves the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was kidnapped Monday by tribesmen in Arhab district, about 60 km northeast of capital Sanaa. His abductors demanded the release of a fellow tribesman who is held by Yemeni authorities in exchange of their hostage.
The tribesmen were ready to release the hostage after approving the committee's proposals. But one of the tribesmen, or the uncle of the tribesman held by the Yemeni government, abducted the hostage Friday evening, backed by al-Qaida elements, Sanan said.
On Wednesday, sources at the Yemeni Interior Ministry told News Yemen that the tribesman involved was held for joining al-Qaida.
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