http://www.english.hadhramaut.info S. African hostages released in Abyan [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 4/1/2009] A S. African mother and two kids with German citizenship, who were taken hostage in Abyan province on Friday, have been freed, the newsyemen.net reported on Sunday. The website cited local sources as saying the hostages were released through a local mediation led by deputy governor of Abyan Muhammad Hadran and members of the province local council. The kidnappers responded to appeals of mediators and set the foreigners free.  However, details about how the release took place were not disclosed. Tribesmen  from the Al Dahour tribe in the province of Abyan  abducted on Friday three S. Africans  on the way from Hadramout, where they were with father, to Aden. The abduction came after authorities in Sana'a arrested an officer from the tribe on political charges. The kidnappers took the S. African mother and her children as hostage to put pressure on authorities to release the officer. According to eyewitnesses the abductors also took government's cars in the province in retaliation for the arrest of the officer.