Yemenis say 4 Belgian tourists freed

Sanaa - A Yemeni official said last night that four Belgian tourists held hostage by tribesmen for four days were turned over…

Sanaa - A Yemeni official said last night that four Belgian tourists held hostage by tribesmen for four days were turned over to negotiators yesterday and were heading back to the capital.

The four Belgians - two women and two men - were among a group of seven who were ambushed by tribesmen on Thursday while travelling in two vehicles outside Sanaa.

More than 100 Westerners have been abducted in the past six years. In December, a militant Islamic group kidnapped 16 foreign tourists. Four of the tourists and three kidnappers died during a rescue attempt by the army.