US diplomat abducted

An American diplomat has been kidnapped by a tribal chief with a grievance against the Yemeni government, Reuter reports from Sanaa.

Haynes R Mahoney, director of the US Information Service in Sanaa, was kidnapped on Thursday evening as he got into his car after a party at a hotel. The Interior Ministry said Mr Mahoney was being held east of Sanaa by five kidnappers acting on orders from a sheikh 'who justified his act on the grounds that he has demands to make to the government'.