An Irish cyclist kidnapped in Iran earlier this month has been released and is expected to travel home in the next few days.
Mr Aidan Leahy, who lives in London, travelled to Tehran last night with two Germans who were kidnapped with him on December 2nd. He was met this morning by Ireland's ambassador to Iran, Mr Thomas Bolster, before making arrangements to fly home.
Events surrounding the trio's release - announced on State television by Iran's Foreign Minister, Mr Kamal Kharazi - were unclear. Iran had said it would not pay the €5 million ransom demanded. Mr Kharazi declared the men were in good health.
The Iranian embassy in Dublin - where staff were continuing to work yesterday on the aftermath of last week's earthquake - expressed "delight" at the development. The embassy said it was unclear whether the disaster had been a factor in their release.