Saudi deputy consul abducted in Yemen

Gunmen have abducted Saudi Arabia's deputy consul from outside his residence in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden, a Yemeni security official has said. Police in the city's Mansoura district said on Wednesday that armed men abducted Abdallah al-Khalidi as he was about to get into his car, and sped off with him in another vehicle. "Abdullah al-Khalidi was kidnapped while leaving his home in the Mansoura neighbourhood of Aden," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "He has some personal conflicts with people in Aden" - Yemeni police official He said police had launched an investigation into the kidnapping. "He was taken to an unknown location and we are searching from him," he said. Saudi officials have confirmed the attack.  "It happened this morning. The embassy already contacted the highest security authority in Yemen. They are investigating and trying to find out the reason," a Saudi foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters news agency, also requesting anonymity. Another Yemeni police official told AFP news agency that Khalidi's abduction was not politically motivated. "He has some personal conflicts with people in Aden," the official said, adding that in recent months, the deputy consul had been threatened and unknown assailants had even "thrown a grenade at his home in Aden". The official did not give further details.

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