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Yemen chases kidnapper of Italian security staffer

SANAA, July 31 (KUNA) -- Yemeni security bodies said here they are hunting down a gunman who has abducted an Italian embassy security agent in the Yemeni capital.
The Yemeni Interior Ministry said in a release the kidnapper, identified as Ali Nasser Jureidan, has kidnapped the Italian security staffer to pressure the Italian government to delete his name from the blacklist and to pay damages to him.
Earlier on Sunday, unknown gunmen have kidnapped an Italian embassy security agent in Yemen's capital Sanaa.
The man was reportedly taken hostage from a street close to the mission in Hadda neighborhood in southwestern Sanaa.
The Yemeni Interior Ministry vowed to have the Italian hostage freed safely soon.
Meanwhile, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi received a telephone call from his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi on the case.
Al-Qirbi stressed that the security authorities have begun to take all required security measures to track down the kidnappers and guarantee the release of the Italian citizen safely.
Terzi voiced his appreciation of the Yemeni security services' efforts in the kidnapping issue.
"Italy stands by President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the Yemeni government in fighting on terrorism and encountering criminals," Terzi said.
Foreigners are frequently kidnapped in Yemen by armed tribesmen, who use them as bargaining chips with the authorities.
More than 200 people have been abducted in Yemen over the past 15 years. The majority have been freed alive and well.
BA