RIYADH (ANS) -- Two children of a kidnapped German Christian family are free. The family had been abducted in North Yemen by Shiite rebels eleven months ago.

German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle confirmed press reports Saudi Arabian security forces had managed to release the two children. Family members in East Gemany told the evangelical news agency “idea” that the two daughters Lydia (6) and Anna (4) are free.

The fate of their parents Johannes and Sabine Hentschel (both 38) is uncertain. Their youngest son Simon (2) is believed to be dead.

The family and a British engineer were kidnapped during an outing near Saada in North Yemen. They were with two German bible school students and a South Korean teacher, who were found murdered on June 12, 2009. The nine Christians had been working at the Al Jumhuri hospital in Saada.

Yemen is one of the strictest Islamic countries. 99 percent of the 21 million inhabitants are Muslims. Small groups of Christians gather in secret.