One of two Belgians freed in Iran-IRNA news agency

TEHRAN, Aug 15 (Reuters) A Belgian woman kidnapped by bandits in southeastern Iran has been freed and efforts are under way to secure the release of her male companion, an Iranian commander was quoted as said today.

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

''The woman tourist, named Carla, 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 the official IRNA news agency, referring to a military base in the region.

''Efforts by the base are continuing to free the other hostage.'' Another Iranian official was quoted on Monday as saying the two Belgians 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.

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

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 that 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 in a bid to secure detained relatives' release from jail.

REUTERS AE PM1415