German girls freed in Yemen relatively well-Berlin

BERLIN May 18 (Reuters) - Two German child hostages freed in Yemen were in relatively good health and would return home on Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Tuesday.

Westerwelle said in a statement that the two girls were in the care of Saudi authorities. However, he remained concerned about three other German citizens kidnapped at the same time last year, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

"The two girls are now in safe hands with the Saudi authorities. Considering the circumstances they are doing well," said Westerwelle. "They will return to Germany tomorrow."

Saudi Arabian security forces freed the two chidren in an area near the border with Saudi Arabia, an interior ministry spokesman in Riyadh said earlier.

The girls were among a group of nine foreigners kidnapped in the northern region of Saada last June, of which three women -- two Germans and a South Korean -- were later found dead. (Writing by David Stamp; Editing by Louise Ireland)