Indonesian rebels free Korean hostages

The Indonesian rebel Organization of Papua Movement (OPM) ended a 22-day hostage drama Tuesday by releasing three employees of a Korean business firm operating in the Southeast Asian nation.

According to the Korean company, the OPM leader released the three captives -- Koreans Kwon Oh-Duk and Lee Jong-Myung and an Indonesian employee -- at their workplace, roughly 59km from the location where they were being held hostage.

Kim Sang-Jin, executive director of the company, reportedly said the trio looked healthy, despite the hardship of their detainment in the jungle. Immediately after their release, all three were hospitalized for physical examinations.

On Tuesday, the OPM withdrew its demand to meet with Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid as a condition for releasing the hostages. The release came amid the Indonesian government`s threats to launch a full-scale military operation against the rebels after they shot three officers of the Indonesian commando force on Feb. 3. The Korean company had made all-out efforts to persuade the rebels to release its employees.