Kidnapped American teacher and her parents released in Yemen

Marta R. Colburn and her parents, Don and Gladys Colburn, of Portland, Ore, were released by tribesmen in Yemen early this morning.

Marta R. Colburn and her parents, Don and Gladys Colburn, of Portland, Ore, were released by tribesmen in Yemen early this morning.

The family were on their way to the capital San'a from the northern province of Marib where they were kidnapped on Tuesday.

The Americans were freed following intensive negotiations by authorities with the kidnappers who belong to the Bani Jabr tribe of the Habab Valley in Marib, east of San'a.

Marta Colburn teaches at the American Institute for Yemeni Studies in San'a and was formerly deputy director of Middle East studies at Portland State University. Her parents were visiting her when they were kidnapped.

Yemeni officials said Wednesday that the kidnappers were demanding the release of 25 fellow tribesmen who have been detained in connection with the blowing up an oil pipeline on October 21. It has not yet emerged whether their demands were met.

The practice of kidnapping is not unusual in Yemen, where tribesmen often kidnap foreigners to pressure the government into providing money or better services, such as new roads, for their impoverished areas. The kidnappers usually treat the hostages as guests and release them unharmed.