Nine kidnapped in Yemen

SANA, Yemen, June 14 (UPI) -- Yemeni authorities Sunday said they were working to free nine hostages kidnapped by Shiite militants fighting the government's reconstruction efforts in Saada.

The seven Germans, one Briton and a South Korean were taken by Shiite Houthi rebels in the province of Saada, Yemen's state-run news agency SABA reported.

Three of those kidnapped were children. The kidnapped adults worked for the province's Jumhori Hospital.

Houthi rebels have been fighting the Yemeni government for years, trying to derail a peace and reconstruction process in Saada, SABA reported.

The kidnapping was the second within a week. Thursday, gunmen in Amran province kidnapped 24 medical workers, who later were released, Saba said.