French woman kidnapped in Yemen
February 24, 2015
The French Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that one of its citizens had been kidnapped in Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
"We unfortunately confirm the kidnapping this morning, in Sanaa, of a French national working for an international organization," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Security sources in Sanaa said earlier on Tuesday that the gunmen had taken the woman and her driver hostage in the center of the capital while she was heading for work.
"We are fully mobilized to try and locate her and ensure a speedy liberation," the ministry added. Officials were in touch with the victim's family.
Security in Yemen has worsened since Shiite Muslim fighters, also known as Houthis, took over Sanaa this month. The country has been on the brink of a civil war since then and experienced an increase in attacks by radical Sunni militants claiming allegiance to al Qaeda.
mg/gsw (Reuters, AP, AFP)