The five British diplomats kidnapped in the Ethiopian desert and held captive for 12 days told yesterday how they survived on a diet of raw fresh camel meat and dirty water.

“They were in a surprisingly good condition,” a friend of one of the hostages said. “Apart from a few tummy upsets and a bit of dehydration they were doing pretty well. They didn’t get fed on what they are used to being fed on; they got raw camel meat.

“The amount of water was not a problem. At first it was not particularly good water, but after 36 hours it improved.” The diplomats, who were freed on Tuesday in Eritrea, were treated to a meal of bangers and mash at the British Embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital.

Last night they flew back to Addis Ababa, and were met at the airport by Bob Dewar, the British Ambassador. “We were treated well by our captors; physically, we are all in good condition but obviously very tired,” they said in a statement.

“One of the first things we did after our release was speak to our families. It was great to be able to tell them that we are well after all they have had to go through in the last 13 days."

The five have been named as: Peter Rudge, first secretary at the British Embassy; Jonathan Ireland, an administrative aide; Malcolm Smart and Laure Beaufils, who work for the Department for International Development, and Rosanna Moore, wife of the director of the British Council in the Ethiopian capital. They were abducted as they camped in the village of Hamedelah, a tiny settlement in the Danakil Depression, 500 miles from Addis Ababa.

The group had been touring the region’s lava lakes and salt pans. They were eventually handed over to security forces across the border in Eritrea as they entered their 13th day surviving in temperatures above 40C.

Yesterday the group said that they were desperately worried about the fate of eight Ethiopians still being held. “Our foremost concern is that they should be released as soon as possible,” their statement said.

British officials would not comment on the circumstances surrounding the release of the Britons. Friends and family have also been warned not to talk to the media for fear of jeopardising the safety of the captive Ethiopians.

The tense relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia is a complicating factor. The two have failed to resolve the border dispute that led to a war during the 1990s in which tens of thousands died.

Eritrean officials have blamed the kidnapping on separatist rebels in the Afar region, where the Britons were abducted. The president of Afar denied the accusations.

Yesterday Ethiopia blamed Eritrea instead. “No doubt the crime of abduction was masterminded and executed by the Eritrean Government,” the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “It has become evident that the Eritrean regime is directly involved in terrorism.”

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