Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Western Tourists Missing in Northeastern Ethiopia
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1679ED5:A6F02AD83191E16075B4B85C0E2E41969574F7DCC14957C0 Two separate
groups reported to have disappeared Thursday, while traveling in Afar
region





At least 15 Western tourists are missing and are believed to have been
kidnapped while traveling in a remote, rebel-plagued area of
northeastern Ethiopia.

Two separate groups of tourists were reported to have disappeared
earlier in the week while traveling in Ethiopia's Afar region.

The French foreign minister has said there are indications that French
citizens may be among those kidnapped. The British Foreign Office has
confirmed that a number of British nationals with connections to
British government agencies were among a missing group of foreign
nationals. Several tourists of other European countries are also
thought to be among the missing.

Ethiopian government officials and foreign diplomats say they are
investigating.

Afar has been troubled for several years by bandits and ethnic rebels
fighting for independence for the region. Several Italian tourists
were kidnapped while touring Afar in 1995. The Ethiopian government
requires tourists to travel with armed guards when visiting the
region.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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