Belgian tourists shot in Yemen
Friday, 18 Jan 2008 15:39
The Belgian tourists were killed in Yemen
In Focus
There was once a time when rich countries could stick their heads in the sand. Now, as Paddy Ashdown says, "everything is connected to everything". Full Story
Two Belgian tourists have been killed in Yemen after gunmen opened fire on their group, according to reports.
Another person, believed to be their Yemeni driver, was killed and four more Belgians were wounded in the attack.
Gunmen reportedly targeted the group as they travelled in vehicles through the desert valley Wadi Dawan in the eastern Hadramut region.
Wadi Dawan is a popular destination with tourists, famed for its colourful mud houses.
"There were about 15 people in the tourist group in Hadramout province, including the driver and guides," a security official told the Reuters news agency.
"Security forces are looking for the attackers."
Last July a suicide bomber killed seven Spanish tourists and two Yemenis at the Queen of Sheba temple.
Al-Qaida has been blamed for a number of attacks in the country.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises Britons visiting Yemen to be particularly vigilant in public places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers as there is a high threat of terrorism in the middle eastern country.