91. The two released hostages had been held for more than six months and a large ransom had been demanded, Chechen Security Minister Aslanbek Arsayev told Interfax. 92. There was no immediate word on whether a ransom had been demanded for Pescatori, and U.S. Embassy officials said they did not yet have any information. 93. The war left the regional economy in tatters, and armed gangs have sought to make money by seizing ethnic Russians and foreigners and demanding ransom. 94. There has been no word from the kidnappers, though the Russian daily Izvestia on Wednesday predicted they would soon demand ransom. 95. They demanded ransom from the family, which owns four restaurants and two shoe stores in Aruba, a wealthy Caribbean island with an economy fueled by tourism. 96. They have demanded a ransom in exchange for their release. 97. Unknown persons have called city and newspaper officials in a Ural Mountains town and demanded ransom for two Russian journalists seized in Chechnya, a news agency reported Friday. 98. Yemeni tribesmen holding a British family hostage have demanded ransom in exchange for their release, a tribal source said Wednesday. 99. Yemeni tribesmen who are holding a Briton hostage have refused to negotiate with the government and are demanding a ransom, security officials said Wednesday. 100. Funke slipped through police fingers time after time as he demanded ransoms from major stores after setting off explosives. |
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