One of two Belgians freed in Iran-IRNA

TEHRAN, Aug 15 (Reuters) A Belgian woman kidnapped by bandits in southeastern Iran has been freed, an Iranian commander said today.

The official IRNA news agency quoted the commander as saying efforts were under way to secure the release of her male companion.

The Fars News Agency cited an ''informed source'' as saying both were freed in an operation today morning.

The Belgian Foreign Ministry yesterday said both tourists, abducted on Sunday in a volatile area, had been released.

''The woman tourist ... was freed from the clutches of the hostage-takers yesterday thanks to the efforts of the Noble Prophet Operational Base,'' Colonel Mohammad Javad Asna-Ashari told IRNA, referring to a military base. ''Efforts by the base are continuing to free the other hostage.'' The Fars News Agency said police in the southeastern province of Kerman had secured the Belgians' release today morning and they were now in the city of Zahedan to be handed over to representatives of their country.

On Monday, Iranian officials said they had been abducted by a bandit group led by a man named Ismael Shahbakhsh who demanded that his jailed brother be freed in return for their release.

The two tourists were travelling by car in an area between Bam and Iran's border with Afghanistan and Pakistan when they were seized, Iranian news reports said.

Southeastern Iran is notorious for clashes between the military and well-armed drugs smugglers.

The Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to name the two, and said they were not a married couple and both were from the Flemish part of Belgium.

Tourists visiting the region are advised not to travel at night.

In the past, European and other tourists have been abducted there.

Kidnappers held some for weeks to try to secure detained relatives' release from jail.

REUTERS SLD PM1459