Tribal kidnappers release Turkish driver

Yemeni authorities were able to release a Turkish driver who was kidnapped almost a month ago by tribal gunmen in Abyan, South Yemen, on Sunday. Tribal sources told Arabstoday: “Tribal mediation on Sunday managed to convince the kidnappers to release the Turkish driver, who was taken while driving in the area of the armed group about a month ago.” At the time of the kidnap, the driver was transporting passengers from Hadrmout to Aden passing through the area of Ahwar in Abyan. After the kidnap, several governmental and local officials tried to convince the kidnappers to release him, but all previous attempts failed. The gunmen kidnapped the driver – who worked in one of the land transport companies - in order to pressure the government to release one of their relatives who was arrested four years ago, accused of criminal offence. According to the sources, the mediation led by a local official in the Mahfad directorate received the kidnapped driver after promising the tribe of Al Kazem to consider releasing their relative who is a prisoner of the government. The Turkish driver was transported to Aden where he was taken to Major General Nasser Hadi’s house, the brother of the Yemeni President, who is also the Intelligence Deputy. Hadi delivered the driver to a representative of the Turkish Embassy in Yemen, who arrived to Aden to receive the Turkish driver.