Amidst growing concern about the stability of Yemen, the world's poorest Arab country, kidnappinds of foreigners by various dissident groups is on the increase. In the latest incident, nine foreigners were abducted and, so far, three bodies, have been found. While kidnappings of foreigners in Yemen are not uncommon, usually the victims have been released unharmed. On this occasion, this is not so, and there are fears for the others who were seized on 12th June. Discovery of the murders came the day following the arrest by Yemeni authorities of Hassan Hussein bin Alwan, a Saudi citizen accused of financing Al Qaeda activities in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
