Italy confirms release of citizen in Yemen

MILAN (AP) — The Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome has confirmed the release of an Italian citizen working for the United Nations who had been kidnapped in Yemen.

A ministry official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, could not provide details on when the employee of the U.N. Development Department was kidnapped or about his release.

Earlier, a U.N. official said the world body was responding to reports that a staff member and driver had been kidnapped in Yemen's capital, Saana on Tuesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, had no further details.

Abductions are frequent in Yemen, an impoverished nation where armed tribesmen and al-Qaeda-linked militants take hostages to swap for prisoners or cash.

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Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations.