Houthis blame Yemeni government for kidnapping foreigners

For months, the Yemeni government has accused the Houthi rebels for kidnapping foreign visitors, including two children but the Houthis are turning the tables and blaming the government for committing the hostage taking.

Six of the nine foreigners who were kidnapped six months ago in Sa’ada, the Northern region of Yemen, are still alive, according to Xinhua. Yemen’s Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs said on Thursday that the six people were alive, including three children who were seen in a new video that was released two weeks ago, however, there was no sign of their parents. Since the abduction took place over the summer, the Yemeni government accused the Houthis of undergoing the kidnapping but they have always denied such charge and blame the government for using propaganda to attack the group. In a statement released on Monday, reports Press TV, leader of the fighters Abdul-Malik al-Houthi denied such claims that his group was negotiating the release of the hostages and accused the government for kidnapping the foreign visitors in the Sa’ada goverment. Foreigners have been the target of kidnappings as al-Qaeda, rebel groups and local tribes kidnap them for ransom, leverage or any other means in negotiations with the Yemeni government, notes CRI English.