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Belgian 'still captive' in Iran | Belgian 'still captive' in Iran |
(about 15 hours later) | |
Police in Iran say only one of the two Belgian tourists kidnapped near Bam at the weekend has been released, the official Irna news agency has reported. | Police in Iran say only one of the two Belgian tourists kidnapped near Bam at the weekend has been released, the official Irna news agency has reported. |
Col Mohammed Asna-Ashari said a woman had been "freed from the clutches of the hostage-takers", while efforts to rescue her husband continued. | Col Mohammed Asna-Ashari said a woman had been "freed from the clutches of the hostage-takers", while efforts to rescue her husband continued. |
The two have been named on Belgian TV as Carla, 36, and Stefaan, 28. | |
On Tuesday, the Belgian foreign ministry said that the tourists had been found and were in good health. | On Tuesday, the Belgian foreign ministry said that the tourists had been found and were in good health. |
It said Stefaan's mother had been in touch with him. The ministry did not confirm the two had been kidnapped. | It said Stefaan's mother had been in touch with him. The ministry did not confirm the two had been kidnapped. |
'Bandits' | 'Bandits' |
"The woman tourist, named Carla, was freed from the clutches of the hostage-takers yesterday thanks to the efforts of the Noble Prophet Operational Base," Col Asna-Ashari, one of the base's deputy commanders, told Irna. | "The woman tourist, named Carla, was freed from the clutches of the hostage-takers yesterday thanks to the efforts of the Noble Prophet Operational Base," Col Asna-Ashari, one of the base's deputy commanders, told Irna. |
"Efforts for releasing her husband continue." | "Efforts for releasing her husband continue." |
On Monday, another Iranian official said the Belgians had been abducted by a "well-known bandit" near the town of Fahraj, while travelling from Bam to Zahedan. | On Monday, another Iranian official said the Belgians had been abducted by a "well-known bandit" near the town of Fahraj, while travelling from Bam to Zahedan. |
Esma'il Shah-Bakhshi demanded his jailed brother be freed in return for the tourists' release, the official added. | Esma'il Shah-Bakhshi demanded his jailed brother be freed in return for the tourists' release, the official added. |
Armed drug smugglers have clashed frequently with Iranian security forces in the area. | Armed drug smugglers have clashed frequently with Iranian security forces in the area. |
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