KL to investigate kidnap in Angola

KL to investigate kidnap in Angola

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia has instructed its High Commission (embassy) in Harare to investigate news reports of a Malaysian kidnapped in Angola, a senior minister said yesterday.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying he would have "to verify the truth of the report before making any further comments."

An official told AFP the Malaysian High Commission in Harare, which also oversees Angola, was investigating the kidnap report, but added "I am even unable to confirm whether there exists a Malaysian by the name of Omar Norola in Angola."

Reports said on Sunday that Omar Norola and a Filipino Marcelin Alime, working as forestry engineers in the oil-rich Angolan enclave of Cabinda, had been kidnapped by separatists and accused of spying for the Angolan government while pretending to work for the Malaysian company Iniwangsa.

The separatist Cabinda Liberation Front-Cabindan Armed Forces (FLECFAC), had said the duo were captured last Saturday.