Five Europeans who were kidnapped close to two weeks ago in Ethiopia have been released into the keeping of neighboring Eritrea and are in good health, the British government announced Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett revealed that the three British men, an Anglo-Italian and a French woman, who are all British diplomats or relatives of such, were released on Tuesday and were now safe in the British Embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital.

"The five are being fed and given fresh clean clothes," Beckett told reporters at the Foreign Office in London. "Medical checks are ongoing, but I understand they are broadly in good health."

Yemani Gebremeskel, spokesman for the Eritrean president, did not reveal Eritrea's part in the release, saying only that it had used its influence with elders in the desert region where the hostages were being held.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman welcomed the release, extending his thanks to both Ethiopian and Eritrean governments for their help.

British officials Tuesday lifted reporting restriction on identifying the five. They were named as Peter Rudge, first secretary of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa; embassy worker Jonathan Ireland; Malcolm Smart and Laure Beaufils of the Department for International Development; and Rosanna Moore, an Anglo-Italian whose husband Michael Moore heads the British Council's Ethiopia office.

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema added his "strong satisfaction" at the release of Moore and the others.

Michael Moore, contacted in the Ethiopian capital, expressed his joy and delight at his wife and co-workers being released. "I have just watched the television now," he said. "At this stage I'm just so overwhelmed I am almost in tears."

Moore said his concern now turned to the plight of eight Ethiopians who were also seized but no indications have so far been received about their release.

Five other Ethiopians who were also abducted had earlier managed to escape or had been released.

Beckett said that officials "continued to be concerned for the welfare" of the eight Ethiopians still unaccounted for.

(China Daily via agencies March 14, 2007)