The chairman of the Irish Red Cross, David Andrews, has appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of the Irish aid worker kidnapped in Ethiopia.
He said the organisation has been working in Ethiopia for many years and as an act of 'generosity and decency' it hopes for his early release.
Donal Ó Suilleabháin, 41, from Co Sligo, was travelling with seven other colleagues when they were abducted by an armed group in the southern town of Gode at about 10am on Monday.
Mr Ó Suilleabháin, a hydrogeologist, has worked overseas for the Red Cross for several years.
He left Darfur in May and travelled to Ethiopia soon after that.
Six of the eight aid workers were subsequently released, but Mr Ó Suilleabháin and an Ethiopian colleague are still being held.
The Irish Red Cross said it is unable to name the group responsible for the kidnap, but has confirmed that it is in contact with the group.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, is being briefed on the situation.
Mr Ahern has asked an experienced negotiator from the Department of Foreign Affairs to travel to Ethiopia to work with the Irish Embassy there.
