Five Italian hostages were freed Friday after six days in captivity and their tribal kidnappers were detained, a deputy provincial governor said. The five Italians were in good health and will be flown by helicopter to the Yemeni capital of San'a, said Adnan Abu Lehoum, deputy governor of Marib province. Tribal mediator Jebal Teanan confirmed the three Italian women and two men were safe and said one of the six kidnappers was a member of the local district council, Marai al-Amiri. There was no immediate word on what persuaded the kidnappers to release their hostages and surrender to security forces. The government has deployed a large number of troops, backed by helicopters, around the kidnappers' hideout in the past few days. The Associated Press said an Italian Foreign Ministry official in Rome confirmed that the hostages had been freed. The Italians were abducted Sunday by tribesmen in Marib province, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of the Yemeni capital of San'a, who sought to force the government to release detained members of the tribe.
