The United Nations' special envoy to Tajikistan, Gerd Merrem, has said he's concerned about the lack of security guarantees for international aid workers in the Central Asian state.

Mr Merrem told a news conference in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, that foreign workers would feel secure once the Tajik authorities presented a comprehensive report on the armed group which had been kidnapping Tajiks and foreigners this year.

Mr Merrem said some members of the group were still holding several hostages.

Reports say a government operation is under way to find and release the remaining hostages.

Two aid workers were kidnapped by the armed group last month; one of them -- a French woman --died during a rescue operation.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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