Yemen's newly appointed information minister has escaped an assassination attempt as he was leaving government headquarters in the capital Sanaa.

Ali Ahmed al-Amrani was unhurt in Tuesday's attack, that left his vehicle riddled with bullets fired as the minister was leaving a weekly cabinet meeting.

"I don't know the reasons behind assassination attempt," Amrani told Al Jazeera.

"I don't have personal problems with anyone and I don't think my position to lead to such an act, the tension and mobilization in Yemen are increasing and having time to time having some illegal consequences."

The minister, a member of the opposition, was named to the post in December as part of a deal that saw President Ali Abdullah Saleh hand over power to his deputy.

Kidnapping

Yemeni tribesmen kidnapped six aid workers from a tourist area west of Sanaa on Tuesday, tribal sources and police said.

State news agency Saba said the abductees were a German, a Colombian, an Iraqi, a Palestinian and two Yemenis.

Tribal sources earlier said three foreigners and three Yemenis working for an international aid group were seized.

Their abductors are demanding the release of people held by Yemeni authorities.

Kidnappings of foreigners and Yemenis are common in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state, where hostages are often used by disgruntled tribesmen to press demands on authorities. Hostages are often freed unharmed.

PHOTO CAPTION

Ali Ahmed al-Amrani took the post in December after President Ali Abdullah Saleh handed over power.

Aljazeera