22 February 2008
Addis Ababa — Ethiopia said on Wednesday security forces had stopped soldiers from neighboring Eritrea abducting 28 French tourists in its remote northern Afar region.
"An attempt by Eritrean forces to abduct 28 French tourists in the Afar region has been foiled by Ethiopian security forces," a police statement read on state TV said.
An Ethiopian official was hurt by gunfire, but the French tourists were fine and taken to a local tourist facility, it said. "They are in a safe condition," the statement said.
ETV reported that would-be kidnappers attacked the tourists' cars around midday Wednesday, shooting at the vehicles.
Eritrean officials routinely deny crossing into Ethiopia or backing local rebels there. .
Last year, five Europeans and 13 Ethiopians were kidnapped in the remote Afar region of northeastern Ethiopia. Ethiopia accused archrival Eritrea of masterminding that kidnapping, but Eritrea blamed an Ethiopian rebel group. Eritrea gained independence from the Addis Ababa government in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war.
All of those hostages were released, though some of the Ethiopians were held for more than a month. (Reuters) Ethiopia also blamed its arch-foe Eritrea, with whom it fought a 1998-200 border war, for masterminding that abduction and backing the local Afar Liberation Front.
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