Five Italian tourists taken hostage by Yemeni tribesmen on 1 January have been freed from captivity.
The three women and two men were flown to the capital Sanaa after being handed over unharmed early on Friday.
The hostages were seized by tribesmen in the Marib region, about 170km (100 miles) from the capital, Sanaa.
Six kidnappers are reported to have been detained as soon as the hostages were released. It was the latest in a spate of such kidnappings.
Marib deputy governor Adnan Abu Lehoum said the Italians were in good health.
One of the released women, Patrizia Rossi, told reporters in Sanaa: "I am very happy, and my companions in the venture have become incredible friends, even though I didn't know them before, and I have great appreciation for the Yemeni government forces".
It is not clear what led to the release on Friday, but security forces had surrounded the kidnappers on Monday and reportedly cut off their water supplies.
The Yemeni authorities had promised the Italian government not to use force to end the crisis.
The families of the five Italians, Piergiorgio Gamba, Maura Tonetto, Camilla Marigni, Enzo Bottillo and Patrizia Rossi, had made an appeal to tribal leaders as "people of honour who know the values of the family and life".
The Associated Press reported that the kidnappers had been persuaded to release the women soon after they were taken captive, but the women refused to leave until their male companions were also released.
Tourist risk
The hostages' relatives were informed of their eventual release by phone from the Italian foreign ministry, AP reported.
"We're thrilled," said Luca Bottillo, whose father Enzo was among those released.
The Italian foreign ministry, which has been following events closely, said negotiations had intensified during the night and it welcomed the happy outcome to the hostage drama.
The kidnappers are said to have taken the hostages in an effort to demand the release of imprisoned tribal members.
The Italians were snatched just a day after five German hostages - including a retired top diplomat - were freed unharmed.
Tourists have been taken hostage in Yemen several times in recent years, usually over local disputes, but have mostly been released after negotiations.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©