[21 July 2008]  

TAIZ, July 21 (Saba) – 171 Yemeni fishermen are back home after Eritrean authorities held them early this month in the international waters without any justification, deputy head of Taiz police Abdul Hakeem Noman said.

the GPC-run almotamar website quoted Noman as saying the fishermen arrived in the port of Makha on Wednesday and Thursday after one week of detention.

Noman said the Eritrean authorities with seizing the fishermen's boats, are violating an agreement between Yemen and Eritrea imposing on the two countries not to attack each other's fishing boat.

Recently, the Eritrean authorities have stepped up unjustified operations against Yemeni fishing boats in the international waters.

Yemen officially protested such actions by the Eritrean authorities and  summoned the Eritrean ambassador to Sana'a Musa Yasin early this year to handed over a protest note concerning the continuation of arresting Yemeni fishermen by the Eritrean authorities.
FR
Saba