Abducted Norwegian in Yemen assures friends he is safe

 By Mohammed al-Kibsi


Exclusive
The abducted Norwegian friends’ said he messaged them several times and assured he was safe.
One of his friends in Yemen said that Gurgt had messaged het on Sunday and Monday and told her he was safe and that his kidnappers have been treating him well and letting him chew Qat.
The source said that Gurgt 34, old from Norway who works for the United Nation in Yemen told her he was safe and that his kidnappers allowed him to use his mobile, though he said they took his mobile from him when he makes many calls or messages.
He said he was somewhere in Marib province but could not affirm in which part.
Yemen security source said that Gurgt is part of a team of U.N. election observers scheduled to oversee Yemen's presidential elections in February.
Gurgt was kidnapped by some tribesmen from Marib province in Yemen’s capital Sana’a said security and diplomat sources on Sunday.
Yemeni security official said the U.N. worker was kidnapped from Sana’a city by armed tribesmen who transferred him to Marib province.
Marib province, 170 kilometers to the North East of Sana’a is one of the strongholds of al-Qaeda in the north of Yemen.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ford Overland Andersen said the ministry was informed the 34-year-old Norwegian man was abducted early Sunday.
“U.N. worker was taken hostage by the Abidah tribe of Marib province. They were demanding the release of a tribesman who was arrested on charges of killing four Yemeni soldiers,” said the Norwegian official.