Gunmen attack tourists

ADDIS ABABA (AP):

Gunmen in Ethiopia's arid north attacked a group of European tourists travelling in one of the world's lowest and hottest regions, killing five, wounding two and kidnapping two, an Ethiopian official said yesterday.

Ethiopia called the attack "an act of open terrorism" and said the gunmen came from neighbouring Eritrea and attacked the tourist group before dawn on Tuesday. Three Ethiopians were also taken hostage. Eritrea denied it was involved.

Austrian, Belgian, German, Hungarian and Italian nationals were among those in the tourist group, Ethiopian Communications Minister Bereket Simon said.

Two Germans, two Hungarians and an Austrian were among the five killed, according to an Interpol report cited by the spokesman for Hungary's prime minister. Two Belgians were seriously hurt and two Italians escaped unharmed, the report said. Two Germans were kidnapped.

Austria's foreign ministry confirmed that an Austrian man from the province of Upper Austria was among the five dead. Germany's foreign minister also confirmed two German deaths. Germany's foreign minister said 12 other people were flown to safety by helicopter.

Those wounded in the attack arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday evening, where they were met by embassy personnel. A British diplomat at the airport said it was possible one British tourist was among the group attacked.