http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Yemeni officials meet freed Germans [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 20/12/2008] Three Germans kidnapped by tribesmen were freed on Friday after a four-day hostage ordeal in the remote area of Bani Dhabyan, some 80 km east of the capital Sana'a. At the Ministry of Interior in Sana'a, German woman architect Julia Thielebein and her parents were received by Interior Minister Rashad al-Masry, Tourism Minister Nabil al-Faqih and German diplomats. Minister al-Masry condemned the kidnapping of the German citizens, pointing out that act is criminalized under the law, the principles of the Islamic religion and the Yemeni people's moral values. The Minister affirmed that the release of the Germans took place without offering any ransom, saying that security operations were on the verge of being launched for securing their release. The Minister of Interior confirmed the security services would not hesitate to deter such criminal acts which harm Yemen and its people and cause severe damages to the national economy. For their part, the freed Germans expressed highly appreciation for the Yemeni government's efforts to release them without subjecting them to any hurt. Speaking to Saba, Julia and her parents said that the incident would not affect at all their love for Yemen and its hospitable people. The Germany deputy ambassador in Sana'a Michael Ruiz expressed the German government's appreciation of Yemen's efforts to secure the release of the German hostages.