Five abducted Europeans freed

Five Europeans abducted almost two weeks ago in one of Ethiopia’s most remote and inhospitable regions were released in neighboring Eritrea after the government there pressured tribal leaders to intervene, officials said.

British officials would not say whether any ransom had been paid.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the three British men, an Anglo-Italian and a French woman were taken to the British Embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital.

Eight Ethiopians abducted at the same time were not with them.