15 foreigners missing in north-east Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Mar 2: Fifteen foreigners including 10 French nationals have gone missing during a visit to a remote region of north-east Ethiopia, sources in the local expatriate community said today.

''At least two groups of people have gone missing,'' one source familiar with the case told sources.

He said the group of 10 French, and another group linked to the British Embassy, had disappeared on Thursday while touring the arid Afar region where small rebel groups are active.

The latter group included one Italian, the source added.

The Ethiopian government said it was aware of the incident, but could not confirm one media report the foreigners had been kidnapped.

''The government is monitoring the situation,'' an Information Ministry spokesman said, adding that a statement would be released later in the day.

Reuters>