Bangladesh army chief visits hostage site

The army chief brought a senior politician with him

Bangladesh's army chief has paid an unexpected visit to the remote region where kidnappers are still holding three European hostages.

Lieutenant General M Harun-Ar-Rashid arrived in Rangamati district as the hostage crisis entered its 11th day.

Briton Tim Selby: Surveying road project

There has still been no direct contact between negotiators and the kidnappers - although a fresh attempt was made on Monday.

Briton Tim Selby and his Danish colleagues Torben Mikkelsen and Nils Hulgaard were abducted while surveying a road construction project in the remote Chittagong Hill Tracts regions of southeastern Bangladesh.

The chief of staff was accompanied by a senior politician who in 1997 negotiated the accord that brought an end to more than two decades of tribal insurgency in the Chittagong Hill tracts.

Kidnappers warned

Though the kidnappers have not identified themselves, it is believed the affair is linked to dissatisfaction with this accord.

The French news agency AFP reported that three tribesman had been dispatched on Monday with a note to the kidnappers, warning them to release their hostages or "face problems".

Danish officials are also involved in trying to end the kidnap

But a British High Commission spokesman in Dhaka was quoted as saying diplomats were opposed to the use of force.

"We want the situation to be resolved peacefully," the spokesman said.

Monday's high-level activity in the area will, British officials hope, finally help to open up a channel of communication.

Three officers from Britain's Scotland Yard are assisting embassy officials in Bangladesh negotiate the hostages' release.

Still no word

There has been no word of the hostages' welfare for several days now - but provisions continue to be sent to them with each of the attempts to make contact.

Bangladeshi authorities have so far refused a demand from the kidnappers to lift a security cordon that has been thrown around their suspected jungle hideout.

On Friday, security forces were reported to have detained 33 people in raids on two villages near the hideout.

Army officials were quoted as saying those detained were suspected of having links with the kidnappers, who are demanding a ransom of $1.6m.