KIDNAPPED JAPANESE TOURIST, IRANIAN CLERGYMEN FREED

Tehran, June 15 (IRNA) - Intelligence minister said a clergyman from city of Fahraj as well as a Japanese tourist who had been kidnapped by bandits are now freed.

Mohseni Ejeie in an interview with reporters here Saturday declared,
"A Japanese tourist who was kidnapped by bandits and drug smugglers
around 10 months ago in the Kerman province and was transferred to
Pakistan has been freed."

The bandits had asked release of their imprisoned friends for freedom of their hostage, the minister added.

The same group of bandits had also kidnapped a clergyman who was
Friday prayers leader in the city of Fahraj and took him to Pakistan
around two months ago.

Ejeie said, "With efforts of the Intelligence Ministry agents and the other forces, especially Judiciary officials, the main elements of hostage takers were arrested."

The minister continued, "Hamid Rigi, brother of bandit leader Malek
Rigi, who had fled to Pakistan was arrested by Pakistani police and
was handed over to Iranian official Saturday."