Tribesmen in Yemen have kidnapped two French tourists.

A Frenchman and his wife, and two Yemenis with them - a guide and driver - were taken from their car in Amran province, some sixty-kilometres from the capital, Sana'a.

A Yemeni official said the authorities were trying to determine their whereabouts.

In the past, tribesmen have abducted tourists and foreigners working in Yemen to try to force the government to fund development in remote areas or to secure the release of various prisoners.

In 1998, four hostages - three Britons and one Australian - were killed when Yemeni security forces stormed the place where they were being held. President Ali Abdullah Saleh has set up special courts to try kidnappers, and has introduced the death penalty for the offence.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service