A Russian aid worker who was kidnapped and held hostage in the breakaway republic of Chechnya eleven months ago is reported to have been released.

The Moscow-based news agency Interfax says the man, Dmitry Petrov, was freed yesterday Tuesday in the neighbouring republic of North Ossetia, possibly on payment of a ransom.

He said he'd been imprisoned in the Chechen capital, Grozny.

Mr Petrov worked for an American missionary organisation.

A colleague who was kidnapped at the same time was freed in March.