Seven Chechen journalists freed in Dagestan

Seven Chechen journalists abducted last week by an armed group in the neighbouring Russian republic of Dagestan have been freed.

The journalists, who work for Russian and western news organisations, were taken captive after crossing into Dagestan to investigate a raid against Russian military targets by suspected renegade Chechen fighters.

Interior Ministry officials in Dagestan said no conditions had been attached to their release despite an earlier demand for the reciprocal exchange of Dagestani policemen thought to have been kidnapped by a Chechen paramilitary group.Correspondents say more than sixty people are being held hostage in Chechnya, at least nine of them foreign nationals.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service