German hostage released in Yemen

Sann: Berns was taken hostage from a southern suburb

SANAA, Yemen -- A German diplomat kidnapped by Yemeni tribesmen nearly two months ago has been released.

The German Embassy in Yemen said its commercial attaché, Rainer Berns, was healthy and had been reunited with his wife and son.

Berns, 55, was released after mediation with the tribal kidnappers but it was not immediately clear whether a ransom was paid.

He was released in Monday in the eastern province of Marib, where he had been held, and driven to the capital, Sanaa, to be handed over to the embassy, a German official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press news agency.

Five men kidnapped Berns July 27 from a street in a southern suburb of the capital.

Yemeni tribesmen regularly kidnap foreign nationals to use as bargaining chips for the release of jailed clansmen or to secure other government action such as spending on infrastructure in their native region of the country.

Most hostages are treated as guests by the kidnappers and are treated well On June 13, tribesmen released a German student unharmed after he spent more than two weeks in captivity.