Spanish embassy policeman found dead in Yemen

Madrid, May 22 (IANS) A Spanish policeman working at the embassy in Yemen capital Sana'a, who went missing last week on his way to the airport, was found dead Tuesday, the Spanish interior ministry said.

The body of 38-year-old Antonio Cejudo, part of the security team at the embassy, was discovered with a gun-shot wound in the head, Xinhua reported.

The body was found in Ashar mountain. The man's personal handgun was found lying nearby.

Authorities believe he had been dead for three days before the body was discovered.

Cejudo's brother Javier reported him missing after he failed to arrive in Madrid where he was due to spend his holidays.

Investigators said Cejudo presumably was kidnapped en-route to the airport.

The disappearance sparked a massive search operation in Yemen, with local police aided by their counterparts from France, Italy and Germany.

Two officials of the Yemeni interior ministry, however, said there was no evidence to show the Spanish national was kidnapped by Yemeni tribesmen or suspected Al Qaeda militants.