Ethiopia said on Saturday it was in contact with an armed group that kidnapped five European and eight locals in a remote northern region -- but ruled out a military operation to rescue them. "Those who are responsible are being reached through different channels, and we are hoping that these people would be freed unharmed and safe," Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told reporters in the northern town of Mekele.
Amid speculation British special forces were in the area, Mesfin said a rescue mission was not being prepared. "We still have not reached that stage. So let's rule out this option for the moment, because the safety and the security of these people is most important for us," he said. "We should focus on saving the lives of these people." |