Kidnap tourists recover

(First Edition)

TWO BRITISH tourists kidnapped by Kurdish rebels were recovering from their ordeal yesterday after being rescued following a shoot-out with Turkish government forces.

Anna Young, 22, and Michael Paterson, 21, both reportedly from Devon, were unhurt but 'shaken up', British Embassy officials said. After their escape, which came as they were abandoned by their captors, the Foreign Office renewed warnings to tourists against travelling to east and south-east Turkey.

The two Manchester University students were seized from a bus by the Kurdistan Workers' Party near Kozluk, south-east Turkey, on Sunday. The couple were due to fly from the regional centre, Diyarbakir, to Ankara today. Their abduction came 12 days after rebels freed David Rowbottom, from Stockport, and his Australian cousin Tania Miller.

Kate Holgate, at the British Embassy in Ankara, said: 'Our advice is not to go there.'

Ms Young's father Tony Young, of Axminster, Devon, said: 'We are all very grateful to the Turkish army and police and the Foreign Office for all the help they have given us.'