[08/May/2008]

MARIB, May 08 (Saba)- Yemeni tribesmen released on Thursday the two Japanese women tourists, identified as Keiko Mishima, a 41-year-old from Tokyo's Suginami Ward, and Shizuko Endo, 44, from Fukuoka, hours after they were kidnapped in Yemen's eastern province of Marib.

Tourism Minister Nabil al-Faqih pointed out that the two Japanese tourists were kidnapped while they were touring the site of the old dam of Marib.

Security sources said that the armed tribesmen had kidnapped the two Japanese women tourists in Marib to pressure the government to free a detained fellow clansman who had been detained on suspicion of involvement in a crime which killed a soldier in Marib.

Al-Faqih emphasized that the incident did not impact the tourism sector in Yemen, noting many tourist groups continue their tourist tours in a number of the country's provinces.

YA