Sanaa---An American among several believed held by Huthi Shiites in war-ravaged Yemen was Monday freed and flown to neighbouring Oman, host of talks between the US and the Iran-backed rebels.
A diplomat in Oman said the talks between the Americans and the Huthis were aimed at promoting peace negotiations, which the UN has so far failed to organise in Geneva.
But the State Department only said that Anne Patterson, the top US official for Near East affairs, was in Oman for discussions "about many issues".
News of the release of the American identified as journalist Casey Coombs came as Omani state media reported that a Singaporean had also arrived in the sultanate on his way home.
"I can... confirm that US citizen Casey Coombs has departed Yemen and has arrived safely in Muscat, Oman," said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf.
"He is in stable condition. The US ambassador and a consular official met him at the airport upon his arrival and are providing all possible consular assistance."
Pictures released by Oman's official ONA news agency showed Coombs being stretchered into an ambulance with a brace around his head.
"We are grateful to the government of Oman and personally to Sultan Qaboos for assisting with the safe passage of a US citizen to Oman," said Harf.
There was no confirmation of where the pair had been held or by whom, but the American journalist's Twitter account has been inactive since May 15.
ONA news agency said the pair had been "found" with help from Muscat which had "coordinated with concerned parties in Yemen to search for the American citizen and the Singaporean".
The United States said at the weekend it was working to secure the release of "several US citizens" held in Yemen, where fighting has raged for months amid an insurgency by the Shiite rebels.
The Washington Post said they were believed to be held by the Huthis in a prison near the rebel-controlled capital.
One of them had initially been detained for overstaying his visa, but was then accused of travelling to "sensitive" areas in Yemen, said the newspaper.
AFP
