Government remains committed and continues to explore options that might result in the early and safe release of South African teacher Pierre Korkie, who is being held hostage in Yemen.

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim visited Yemen to assist in negotiations for Korkie's release at the weekend.

Korkie and his wife Yolande, who have been living in Yemen for four years, were captured in May last year in the Yemeni city of Taiz. Yolande was released last week without any ransom being paid, but the militants have demanded R32 million to release Korkie.

Briefing the media on his trip, Ebrahim said he held a range of meetings, including with the representatives of the Yemen Security Services, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister and the President of Yemen. Details of the discussions, Ebrahim said, cannot be divulged at the moment. He did, however, receive a comprehensive report with the latest information and developments regarding the kidnapping.

"We used our engagements to seek advice and look into what Yemen and South Africa can do together to secure the security release."

Ebrahim, who also made a passionate plea to the kidnappers, which was broadcasted from Yemen’s television stations, said he had stressed the urgency of the case, in view of Korkie's deteriorating health.

"The Yemeni authorities, who have considerable experience in dealing with situations of this type, emphasised that the motive of the kidnapping was not political. It was confirmed that South Africans are not the only ones targeted and that it was a case of mistaken identity."

Foreigners are frequently kidnapped in Yemen by al-Qaida militants or tribesmen, who ask for ransoms for the release of their prisoners.

Currently, eight other foreign nationals are also held hostage in areas that are not under government control.

In the case of Korkie, they have issued an execution threat if the ransom is not paid.

The kidnappers extended the deadline for the ransom money to be paid last week Friday, by 21 days.

Yesterday, the humanitarian group Gift of the Givers said the group holding Korkie had contacted them via text message asking them about the money for the ransom. They later sent a picture of a bomb belt after the humanitarian group said government does not negotiate with terrorists.

Ebrahim said although such threats are taken seriously, they still hope that they can spare Korkie’s life.

The deputy minister said government's position is clear and it does not pay ransoms under any circumstances.

“This is not only a South African policy but the international norm of governments across the world ... we do not negotiate with the kidnappers, we work with the government of that country."

Analysts have also warned that the paying of a ransom will portray the country as a soft target to hostage takers.

On reports that the family is trying to raise the funds, Ebrahim said that was a private family initiative and that government was not involved.

Despite no warning having been issued to South Africans travelling to Yemen, Ebrahim advised people to be careful when travelling in conflict areas and register with ROSA. - SAnews.gov.za

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In a major turn, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has withdrawn his invitation to Iran to attend a conference on ending the nearly three-year-old Syrian civil war, which is due to start at Montreux, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

Ban’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky said the secretary-general was "dismayed (and) deeply disappointed" on Monday and "currently, urgently considering his options" after Iran released public statements conflicting with what was reportedly discussed in private, resulting in their invitation to participate being withdrawn.

Iran, whose invitation was seen as controversial due to its backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, refused to support a process to form a transitional government -- one of the goals of the conference laid out in the Geneva Communiqué issued on June 30, 2012.

"The secretary-general is deeply disappointed by Iranian public statements that are not at all consistent with that stated commitment," Nesirky said.

"He continues to urge Iran to join the global consensus behind the Geneva Communiqué. Given that it has chosen to remain outside that basic understanding, he has decided that the one-day Montreux gathering will proceed without Iran's participation," the spokesman said.

The international conference is designed to find a peaceful solution to the nearly three years of fighting in Syria, which has claimed the lives of more than 100 000 people and produced two million refugees.

Both the Syrian government and representatives of the opposition said they would attend the meeting and the joint UN-League of Arab States representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, was ready to mediate the talks between the two Syrian camps on Friday.

However, the move to invite Iran provoked a row, with the Syria National Opposition and the United States objecting and the opposition threatening to withdraw.

“During the brutal conflict of the past three years, the Syrian people have experienced horrendous suffering, humanitarian shortages and human rights abuses,” the statement read out by Nesirky said.

“The Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 remains the internationally agreed framework for ending the crisis.

“It is the basis on which the global community will gather on Wednesday in Montreux, Switzerland, and the foundation for the negotiations between the Syrian parties that will begin on Friday in Geneva. Throughout the Syrian conflict, the Secretary-General has sought to do everything within his power for a political solution, which is the only path forward.”

The secretary-general said he looked forward to joining the initiating parties, Russia and the US, as well as some 40 other states and organisations that will attend “this long-awaited and hugely important push for peace”.

“The Syrian parties, the region and the international community have an opportunity and a responsibility to end the violence and begin a transition towards a new Syria,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za

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