Kidnap throws spotlight on barren corner of Ethiopia

By Andrew Cawthorne

BERAHILE, Ethiopia (Reuters) - The mysterious kidnapping of five Europeans and eight locals has put the international spotlight on a remote, barren and searingly hot corner of Ethiopia left behind by the modern world.

The Afar region's 1.4 million inhabitants -- mainly nomads -- occupy one of the earth's harshest terrains. Here, rock-strewn hills give way to vast deserts below sea level, and dry river-beds and acacia thorn-trees dot the landscape.

Caravans of camels, roped to each other tail-to-mouth, haul blocks of salt from desert mines up the winding tracks for sale in Ethiopia's highlands.

Bandits, exhaustion, thirst and temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) all stalk the sun-beaten herders who pace beside their precious camels on two-week treks.

The only foreigners who normally brave the inhospitable Afar are researchers, a few aid workers and adventure tourists visiting geographical wonders like the Danakil Depression with its ancient salt mines and volcanoes.

So it is no wonder friends and family of the three Britons, one French woman and one British-Italian woman abducted -- along with Ethiopians who were helping facilitate their trip -- are frantically worried about their conditions.

Local Ethiopian authorities say the group, taken last Thursday, has been marched into nearby Eritrea by soldiers from there. The two nations are arch-enemies.

But diplomats on the case are indicating the Europeans, who were all linked to the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, may have been taken by a local group.