AFGHANISTAN: Ms Annetta Flanigan, from Northern Ireland, Ms Shqipe Hebibi, of Kosovo, and Mr Angelito Nayan, from the Philippines, were "abandoned" on a street in Kabul at dawn, the Afghan Interior Minister, Ali Ahmad Jalali, said
They were in good health, and are expected to leave Afghanistan today.
Their release ended a crisis which had frightened foreigners in Afghanistan and embarrassed many Afghans.
The Taliban splinter group Jaish-e-Muslimeen, which claimed responsibility, said the government had agreed to release 24 Taliban prisoners in return for the release of the three.
But Mr Jalali insisted that no concession had been made. "None of the hostage-takers' conditions have been met," he said. "All those people who had a hand in this, directly or indirectly, will be brought to justice."
UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan, who spoke to the three by phone, said he was "profoundly relieved".
The three officials, who helped organise last month's presidential election, were snatched on the street on October 28th, but the subsequent confusion suggested that the kidnappers lacked either a cold sense of purpose or organisational ability.
Numerous deadlines came and went, and a bewildering array of rebel spokesmen made ever-changing demands. Although Jaish-e-Muslimeen claimed responsibility, officials believe the hostages were held on its behalf by a criminal gang.
On Monday, US-led forces detained 12 people, including a UN doctor, but it was unclear whether this helped free the hostages. The US ambassador, Mr Zalmay Khalilzad, said their release was "a major defeat to terrorists who wanted to export an Iraq-style of hostage-taking in Afghanistan".
Mr Behgjet Pacolli, a Kosovan businessman who arrived in Kabul weeks ago seeking to free Ms Hebibi, denied paying a ransom, as did the Philippine government.
Joe Humpreys adds: Ssecurity controls on the movement of aid workers in Afghanistan have been considerably relaxed following the release of the three hostages.
However, Irish aid agencies based in Kabul said yesterday they were still remaining vigilant about the threat of abductions.
Trócaire's acting head of international operations, Ms Mary Healy, who was in Afghanistan earlier this month, said local representatives met yesterday with other non-governmental organisations to review security procedures. "There will be a loosening of security restrictions. But movement will still be confined to a specified zone. While this is great news, we have to remain vigilant and cautious."
Ms Healy noted that since the hostage-taking, staff had been confined to one of two locations: their living quarters or an office in Kabul.
"That is very oppressive in itself, and we have to be cognisant of the psychological impact on staff."
Concern's regional director, Ms Anne O'Mahony, said reports that the release of the hostages was "unconditional" were particularly encouraging as it might deter future abductions.
"We can now breathe a little easier regarding our staff and all international staff working there. Ordinary Afghans were outraged that three election observers were taken in this fashion. With this episode behind us, the people of Afghanistan and the international community can now focus on the very positive outcome of the recent elections," said Ms O'Mahony, who returned from Afghanistan last week. - (Guardian Service)