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05/03/2007
Vehicles found in search for kidnapped Britons
A search team looking for five Britons kidnapped in Ethiopia have discovered three vehicles which appear to have been damaged by gunshots or an explosion.
According to reports, the vehicles, which were discovered in the village of Hamedali near the border with Eritrea, still had luggage, shoes and mobile phones inside.
A Foreign Office spokesperson described the discovery as "distressing".
The Britons - UK embassy staff and their relatives - were seized during a sightseeing trip in the region on Thursday.
The British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Robert Dewar, said: "The welfare of all of those who are missing is our absolute priority. As you would expect, Embassy staff here in Addis Ababa are working hard to this end. We were joined on Friday by a team from London to support our efforts. Further staff will join us as needed. We are co-ordinating closely with the Ethiopian authorities, other governments in the region and with other European governments.
"There has been much media speculation about the circumstances surrounding the group's disappearance and who might be responsible. I would ask for restraint in media reporting of speculative information that could prove upsetting to the families of those involved. Of course, the teams in London and in Ethiopia working on this are exploring every possibility in their efforts to establish the facts.
"If, as has been speculated, the group is being held against their will, it may be they have been victims of mistaken identity. Whatever the case, there will be those in the community who are willing and able to facilitate their safe return. We stand ready to hear from anyone with information relating to the group's disappearance. I would urge anyone who thinks they can help to contact the British Embassy or the Ethiopian authorities, via a community leader if necessary."
On Saturday, the Ethiopian News Agency said that five Ethiopians who were with the group had been found near the border with Eritrea, although it is not known whether they were released or managed to escape.
British diplomats are currently negotiating with Ethiopian authorities in the capital Addis Ababa in order to try and secure their release.
Foreign Office Minister Geoff Hoon told ITV 1's 'The Sunday Edition' that the situation was "a matter of grave importance" and that the department was working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.
Eritrea has dismissed claims that their soldiers kidnapped the Britons and took them to a military camp.
On Monday, 'The Daily Mirror' reported that an SAS squad was preparing to support the effort to free the British hostages.
The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on any involvement by the special forces.
(KMcA/SP)
According to reports, the vehicles, which were discovered in the village of Hamedali near the border with Eritrea, still had luggage, shoes and mobile phones inside.
A Foreign Office spokesperson described the discovery as "distressing".
The Britons - UK embassy staff and their relatives - were seized during a sightseeing trip in the region on Thursday.
The British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Robert Dewar, said: "The welfare of all of those who are missing is our absolute priority. As you would expect, Embassy staff here in Addis Ababa are working hard to this end. We were joined on Friday by a team from London to support our efforts. Further staff will join us as needed. We are co-ordinating closely with the Ethiopian authorities, other governments in the region and with other European governments.
"There has been much media speculation about the circumstances surrounding the group's disappearance and who might be responsible. I would ask for restraint in media reporting of speculative information that could prove upsetting to the families of those involved. Of course, the teams in London and in Ethiopia working on this are exploring every possibility in their efforts to establish the facts.
"If, as has been speculated, the group is being held against their will, it may be they have been victims of mistaken identity. Whatever the case, there will be those in the community who are willing and able to facilitate their safe return. We stand ready to hear from anyone with information relating to the group's disappearance. I would urge anyone who thinks they can help to contact the British Embassy or the Ethiopian authorities, via a community leader if necessary."
On Saturday, the Ethiopian News Agency said that five Ethiopians who were with the group had been found near the border with Eritrea, although it is not known whether they were released or managed to escape.
British diplomats are currently negotiating with Ethiopian authorities in the capital Addis Ababa in order to try and secure their release.
Foreign Office Minister Geoff Hoon told ITV 1's 'The Sunday Edition' that the situation was "a matter of grave importance" and that the department was working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.
Eritrea has dismissed claims that their soldiers kidnapped the Britons and took them to a military camp.
On Monday, 'The Daily Mirror' reported that an SAS squad was preparing to support the effort to free the British hostages.
The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on any involvement by the special forces.
(KMcA/SP)
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