At least three foreign women, thought to be part of a group which was kidnapped in Yemen, have been found dead, local officials have said.
The group of nine foreign hostages - mostly women and children - was kidnapped by Shia rebels in a mountainous area in the north.
It included seven Germans, a British engineer and a Korean female teacher.
One unconfirmed report citing unnamed security officials said the bodies of more of the foreigners had been found.
Yemen's Interior Ministry earlier said the foreigners were kidnapped while on a picnic on Friday in the north-western province of Saada.
A UK Foreign Office spokesman said on Monday that it was investigating reports of the deaths.
The Huthi Zaidi rebel group, which has been fighting the government for the last five years in the area, denied any part in the kidnapping, AFP reported.
More than 200 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Yemen in the last 15 years. Most have been released unharmed.
nscfxkr