11.   The former captives were being held under heavy guard in a nearby village and interrogated to make sure they were not rebels posing as hostages to escape.

12.   The former captives were brought first to Sovetskoye by Russian troops, who interrogated them to make sure they were not rebels posing as hostages.

13.   The gaunt, bearded former captives beamed Saturday as they stepped down from their helicopters in Zamboanga city, where they were presented to their ambassadors.

14.   The repatriation of the suspects and their former captives was reported earlier this week by the U.S. State Department in Washington.

15.   The other former captives were four British aid workers and at least one Liberian.

16.   The open letter from the former captives Thursday comes on top of earlier praise for Aoki from released hostages, who have called him a hero.

17.   The weary former captives grinned as they were handed over to human rights, church and justice officials.

18.   The former captives said they had been treated well, but that it felt good to be free.

19.   The former captives said they were grateful to be back home but said they were in dire need of food and medecine.

20.   The former captives were citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, ITAR-TASS said.