David Holmes: "It ranged from the tragic to the bizarre"

Brian Smith, David Holmes and Sue Mattocks told a news conference at London's Gatwick Airport that they were "amazed" to be alive following the fierce gun battle between their kidnappers and Yemeni soldiers on Tuesday.

Four of their fellow travellers - Britons Margaret Whitehouse, Dr Peter Rowe and Ruth Williamson and Australian Andrew Thirsk - were killed as the kidnap drama drew to a close.

The trio declined to criticise the Yemeni Government, which has been accused in some quarters of bungling the rescue attempt, and said they had no idea who fired the first shot.

Mrs Mattocks said: "An operation of that kind is never going to be tidy."

Mr Holmes paid tribute to Mrs Whitehouse's husband, Laurence, and described how he grappled with one of the "bandits" after his wife was shot dead.

Mr Smith said he was amazed to be alive and said everyone in the group had shown tremendous "composure, dignity and courage" in the circumstances.