SANAA, Jan. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The Yemeni kidnappers holding five Italian hostages threatened Monday to kill the hostages if the government forces attacked their hideout in a remote tribe.

   The death threat was contained in a statement by one of the captors, which was published on the "Mareb Press", a private website close to Yemeni tribes.

   In the statement, the captors required the release of two tribesmen detained in prisons and threatened to kill the Italian tourists if they were attacked, as the government forces on early Monday besieged the tribal area, where the five Italians are being held.

   Yemeni Prime Minister Abdel Kader Bajammal told reporters on Monday that the government forces have besieged the captors to force them to free the hostage.

   "We will not negotiate with the hostage-takers, we will not be lenient, and (we will) exercise all kinds of pressure on them for a peaceful release of the hostages," he said.

   The five Italians were kidnapped on Sunday, just one day after a German family of five were freed. It was the fourth abduction of foreigners in the country in less than two months.

   According to the local government, the three female hostages were released, but returned after learning that their male companions were still held in captive.

   Tribesmen in Yemen usually pressed the government to reach their goal by kidnapping foreigners.

   Most of the foreign hostages were released unharmed after the kidnappers were satisfied.

   However, three Britons and an Australian seized by Islamist militants were killed when security forces stormed their hideout in December 1998. Enditem