US teacher shot dead in Yemen

Two gunmen killed language institute teacher in his car in Yemeni city of Taez, officials say

Two gunmen on a motorcycle have shot dead an American teacher working at a language institute in a central Yemeni city, according to the region’s provincial governor.

Hamoud al-Sufi said the teacher had been shot in his car in Taez city on Sunday morning. He did not have details on who the killers might be, and said an investigation was ongoing.

Much of Yemen saw a collapse of central state authority during the year-long uprising against the longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped down as president last month.

Militants affiliated with al-Qaida took advantage of the chaos to seize control of towns in nearby provinces.

Yemeni security officials said tribesmen had kidnapped a Swiss woman working as a researcher in the western city of Hodeida on Tuesday.

Such kidnappings were common even before last year’s uprising, with the hostages used as bargaining chips to secure the release of Yemeni prisoners or to get cash. Usually in such cases the hostages are not harmed.

Tribesmen in the area denied the officials’ account and said the woman had been taken by militants.

from (author unknown)

via http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/18/us-teacher-shot-dead-yemen