The Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says one of its aid workers in Yemen has been kidnapped.

The French national was taken from his car, which was stopped on a road to the southwestern port city of Hudayda on Saturday, according to an ICRC spokeswoman.

She said the identity of the kidnappers was not known  but called on them to let the humanitarian aid worker go safely and unconditionally.

The ICRC said it had contacted the Yemeni authorities about the incident, which also involved two local drivers who were briefly detained.

Last month, a Swiss woman, apparently working as a teacher, was taken hostage in the same region.

Correspondents say kidnappings of foreigners are frequent in Yemen where hostages are used as bargaining chips to secure the release of Yemeni prisoners or get cash.

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