UN announces release of 5 staff members kidnapped by al-Qaida in Yemen 18 months ago

By EDITH M. LEDERER and AHMED AL-HAJ
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations says five staff members who were kidnapped in Yemen 18 months ago by an al-Qaida affiliate have walked free. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said the five men, who included four Yemenis and one from Bangladesh, were “in good health, good spirits … but they went through a very difficult period of isolation.” The U.N. said they all were released after lengthy negotiations that included officials from Oman. The U.N. coordinator told reporters on Friday, “I can confirm that the hostage-takers were al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.” Also known as AQAP, the group is considered one of the global al-Qaida network’s most dangerous branches.