SANA'A: A Briton being held hostage by Yemeni tribesmen yesterday sent
his family a message that he was being well-treated by his captors,
although he looked tired and drawn in a television interview allowed by
his Kalashnikov-wielding captors. Peter Jackson, 49, from Exeter, a
pipeline manager for oil firm Hunt, was seized last Monday after
checking reports of an explosion. Canadian helicopter pilot George
Hawkins and four Yemenis were also taken hostage, but the Khowlan
tribesmen released the Yemenis and are holding the Westerners as a
bargaining chip in their grievance against the Yemeni Government. Mr
Hawkins said: ''We are hopeful we will be out of here soon without any
difficulties . . . this has ruined my New Year's resolution to quit
smoking.''
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