While Yemen is seeking to release a Japanese engineer who was kidnapped by tribesmen in Sana'a early last week, chief mediator on the release said on Saturday that Al-Qaeda took the engineer to Jawf in northeast Yemen, the News Yemen reported.

Sheikh Abdul Jalil Sinan said Al-Qaeda affiliates kidnapped the Japanese from the Joub tribe where he was snatched on Sunday by tribesmen demanding the release of one of their relatives held by the authorities in connection with Qaeda links.

The risky development comes in a country where foreigner kidnapping mainly aimed at pressuring the authorities to meet some demands has decreased in recent years.

Earlier, Sinan said the tribal mediation for the release of the foreigner was ongoing.

No progress has been seen on his release after the kidnappers had refused all guarantees offered for the release of the foreigner, the chief mediator has said.

Days ago, Sana'a Governor said the tribesmen in the district were exploiting the authorities in an effort to pressure them to release one of the most Qaeda wanted prisoners, pointing to their demand to release a relative in exchange for the release of the Japanese.

The suspect will not be release except under a judicial verdict, Noman Duwaid said as he reiterated the authorities will not bow to such illegal and grave demands.

Tribesmen kidnapped the Japanese engineer last Sunday while on his way to the worksite.

The kidnapping, almost the fifth this year, was aimed at releasing Hussein Abdullah Hussein Joub from the district of Arhab who was held four years ago in connection with links to Al-Qaeda.

Joub was said to have fought in Iraq and lived in Lebanon and Syria with militants.