FIVE U.N. PEACEKEEPERS WHO WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE IN EASTERN CONGO IN MAY WERE RELEASED SATURDAY, MEANING ALL THOSE CAPTURED IN THAT MILITIA FIREFIGHT ARE NOW FREE, THE UNITED NATIONS SAID IN A STATEMENT, ACCORDING TO AP. THE FIVE NEPALESE MEN WERE RELEASED UNCONDITIONALLY AND HAVE REJOINED THEIR COLLEAGUES, U.N. SPOKESMAN KEMAL SAIKI SAID IN A STATEMENT. TWO OTHERS WERE RELEASED IN LATE JUNE. THE SEVEN WERE CAPTURED DURING A MAY 28 MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST MILITIAMEN IN WHICH TWO PEACEKEEPERS WERE KILLED IN THE RESTIVE ITURI PROVINCE. THE U.N. IS BACKING GOVERNMENT FORCES TRYING TO SECURE THE COUNTRY BEFORE ELECTIONS SLATED FOR JULY 30, THE COUNTRY'S FIRST IN MORE THAN FOUR DECADES. A 1998-2002 WAR THAT DREW ARMIES FROM SIX COUNTRIES INTO CONGO IS OVER, BUT EASTERN CONGO REMAINS AWASH IN CONGOLESE AND FOREIGN MILITIAMEN WHO PREY ON CIVILIANS.
