Yemeni authorities hope to soon secure the release of a former German government minister, his wife and three children, kidnapped by tribesmen in the eastern part of the country, officials said on Thursday. "We have formed a committee of tribal leaders and government officials to negotiate with the kidnappers. No force will be used to free them," said Ali al-Rassas, governor of Shabwa province. "They will be freed safely and soon," another official told Reuters. He gave no further details of the negotiations to free former German junior foreign minister Juergen Chrobog and his family. Yemeni officials say the family was seized by members of the al-Abdullah tribe during a trip to Shabwa from the port city of Aden. The kidnappers are trying to force the Yemen government to free five tribesmen jailed on criminal charges including murder. The captors said the Germans were in good health. "We are still talking with authorities. The hostages are in an excellent state and they are in good health," one of them told Reuters by telephone.
