1.   There was none of the drama and relief of a hostage release.

2.   As the slow process of hostage release continued, it was clear that the Serbs had won a significant political victory.

3.   Akashi denied that any deal had been made for any hostage releases.

4.   It was unclear what, if anything, the Greeks, traditional allies of the Serbs, had offered in exchange for the hostage release.

5.   An hour later, the hostage release began.

6.   And left-leaning President Hugo Chavez of neighboring Venezuela confirmed that he sent envoys into the area to help negotiate hostage releases with the FARC.

7.   As they did during previous hostage releases, Serbian security officials kept reporters away from the freed peacekeepers.

8.   Arsenis declined to say if Greece had agreed to lobby its NATO partners for a halt to air strikes in return for a hostage release.

9.   Authorities have reported growing tensions within the Abu Sayyaf over the sharing of millions of dollars in ransom they have reportedly received for previous hostage releases.

10.   But there were no immediate reports of any action after the hostage release.