Papua New Guinea kidnap: Archaeologist Bryce Barker and colleagues freed

An archaeologist and 2 of his colleagues person been rescued aft being held captive for a week by an equipped radical successful Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Professor Bryce Barker, a New Zealand national who lives successful Australia, was primitively captured astatine gunpoint with 3 colleagues arsenic they took portion successful a tract survey travel adjacent Mount Bosavi.

One of the radical was freed connected Thursday.

PNG's person has said the radical was released without paying the ransom that had been demanded.

Prime Minister James Marape said the kidnappers wanted 3.5m Papua New Guinean Kina ($994,000; £832,000) but the hostages had been rescued "through covert operations".

"We apologise to the families of those taken arsenic hostages for ransom," helium said. "To criminals, determination is nary nett successful crime. We convey God that beingness was protected."

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) named the women who were held with Professor Barker arsenic Jemina Haro, Teppsy Beni and Cathy Alex - each members of his probe team.

Professor Barker works for the University of Southern Queensland and the university's Vice-Chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie said they were relieved helium was safe.

She described the prof arsenic a "highly regarded archaeologist and a valued colleague" with galore years acquisition of probe successful the region.

New Zealand's overseas minister, Nanaia Mahuta, wrote connected societal media that her state "welcomes the harmless merchandise of hostages successful PNG including a NZer".

"Tenkiu tru for your enactment and practice governments of PNG and Australia," she added, utilizing the operation from the creole Tok Pisin oregon Pidgin connection utilized successful PNG that means "thank-you precise much".

Penny Wong, Australia's overseas minister, has besides acknowledgment the PNG authorities for "its enactment successful securing a harmless & peaceful resolution".

In neighbouring Papua, which is controlled by Indonesia, it is understood New Zealand aviator Philip Mehrtens is inactive being held captive.

He was kidnapped more than 2 weeks ago aft landing his level successful Papua's distant mountainous state of Nduga.

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), a rebel radical that rejects Indonesian rule, has pledged to merchandise Mr Mehrtens if Papua is granted independence.

Separately, Indonesian officials said connected Friday that they had tightened information successful the municipality of Wamena successful the country's eastbound portion aft 10 radical were killed during a riot sparked by rumours that a kid had been abducted.

Security forces reportedly opened occurrence connected locals aft suspicion that the authorities were holding the idiosyncratic liable for the suspected abduction led radical to onslaught a constabulary presumption and different buildings.