24 May 2002

Hostages held in PNG Highlands released

2:34 pm on 24 May 2002

Three hostages that were being held in the Southern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, have been freed.

The Post Courier reports that a candidate in next month's election, Benias Perry and two policemen were released yesterday after negotiations between their armed captors and the sacked former Governor of the province, Anderson Agiru.

The three men were taken hostage last week after a shootout between tribesmen, in which a policeman and a villager were killed.

Mr Agiru says the three were released after a deal to give compensation for the villager's death..