A Sri Lankan aid agency with ties to Tamil Tiger rebels says two of 10 reportedly kidnapped employees have returned to their families, but that eight others are still missing.
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization says five aid workers disappeared Tuesday after leaving Batticaloa district by vehicle. It says a day earlier, five other staff members traveling from the same district also were kidnapped.
Agency officials say they are not sure exactly what happened because the two employees, both women, are too scared to talk.
The rebels have accused Sri Lankan authorities of being behind the abductions. The authorities say the claims are untrue.
After the first reported kidnapping, the rebels threatened to pull out of upcoming peace talks in Switzerland unless the government does more to protect Tamils.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
