DUSHANBE - Islamic rebels in Tajikistan yesterday freed five UN workers, the last remaining captives in a two week hostage crisis in the volatile former Soviet republic.
A Tajik government official said President Imomali Rakhmonov, who had personally negotiated the release of the five, greeted them at the village of Obigarm, 80 km to the east of the capital, Dushanbe. The freed hostages were on their way to the capital, the official said.