Five Chinese hostages freed in Indonesia

Five Chinese nationals held hostage in Indonesia's Aceh province for two days have been freed unharmed and without any ransom paid, police said Tuesday.

"Five Chinese nationals were evacuated Tuesday morning. All of them are in good condition," local police chief Armia Fahmi told AFP.

He said police still had no information on the identity of the kidnappers who had fled the area.

Seven men armed with rifles and wearing masks took the Chinese hostage at a tin mine in Pining, Gayo Lues district late Saturday, police said.

Fahmi said the men were conducting an investment survey on the mine but had not informed local police about their activities.

"They are now still in the police office in Gayo Lues. We need them to help us by providing details about the incident," he said.

Aceh was for nearly three decades a zone of armed conflict between Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists and government forces until a peace pact was signed in 2005. GAM dropped its demand for independence in return for broader autonomy for the region.

Observers have long warned that firearms left over from the conflict could present a security threat in the region. (*) end