Fears are growing for the eight Ethiopians who were kidnapped with five British Embassy hostages who were freed yesterday.
The five Europeans, kidnapped while on a sightseeing tour near the disputed border with Eritrea, taken to the British Embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital, where they were fed and given medical check-ups following their release.
They are due to be reunited with family and loved ones today after being held captive for 13 days by an armed rebel group, officials said today.
However, there are concerns for the welfare of the eight Ethiopians who were kidnapped with the group and who are still missing. The Ethiopian government called for their immediate release.
It was not clear where the tour group had been held. Ethiopian officials have said the hostages may have been taken by rebel gunmen and marched across the porous Ethiopian border into neighbouring Eritrea.
But Eritrea said yesterday that the hostages only crossed into Eritrea immediately before being handed over to the embassy.