On anniversary on celebrated Colombia rescue, Uribe blamed for stalled hostage releases

BOGOTA — A year after Colombian military agents disguised as international aid workers helicoptered Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors to freedom, an offer by their former leftist rebel captors to unilaterally free two hostages is in limbo.

Chance visit by bill collector leads to rescue of Calif. woman held hostage in home for 3 days

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — Investigators say a California woman held hostage in her home by an ex-boyfriend has been saved by a chance visit from a bill collector.

Bodies of 2 British men held hostage in Iraq identified as security guards abducted in 2007

LONDON — Two bodies handed over to British authorities in Iraq have been identified as bodyguards kidnapped in Baghdad two years ago, the government said Sunday.

Foreign Secretary says bodies of 2 British hostages handed over to UK forces in Iraq

LONDON — The bodies of two British hostages kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 have been handed over to U.K. officials, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Saturday. He said the government feared three other Britons taken hostage with them were in grave danger.

Despite long-severed diplomat ties, US government has opened some paths to deciphering Iran

WASHINGTON — During a 29-year absence of formal diplomatic ties with Iran, the U.S. government used many channels to gain insights about the Islamic regime’s inner workings, from CIA contacts and meetings with Iranian exiles to relayed information from friendly foreign diplomats.

Foreign hostages found dead in Yemen, al-Qaida suspected

SAN’A, Yemen — At least three kidnapped foreigners have been killed in a remote Yemeni province, and security officials in the capital on Monday reported another six were also dead. The slayings took place in a region where al-Qaida militants have a strong presence.

Nine foreigners, including 3 children, kidnapped in Yemen found dead, say officials

SAN’A, Yemen — Nine missing foreigners in Yemen have been murdered, said a Yemeni official Monday, apparently executed by their kidnappers in the impoverished nation in the Arabian peninsula where al-Qaida has a strong presence.

Yemeni official says 3 German women hostages found dead, their bodies mutilated

SAN’A, Yemen — Three German women abducted in a group of foreigners last week in Yemen were found dead early Monday, their bodies mutilated, a Yemeni security official said.

Key events in Iran since revolution

A look at important dates in Iranian international and domestic affairs since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

AP IMPACT: Al-Qaida in North Africa: A franchise for terrorism strikes far

DRAA BEN KHEDDA, Algeria — Deep in the Sahara Desert, along the remote southern borders of Algeria, lies an immense no man’s land where militants roam.

British PM Brown says al-Qaida have likely executed UK hostage in Mali

LONDON — Al-Qaida terrorists have killed a Briton taken hostage in Mali, the British prime minister said Wednesday. The fate of a Swiss hostage taken at the same time was unknown.

Britain’s Brown says al-Qaida have likely executed UK hostage

LONDON — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday that a Briton held captive in Mali is believed to have been killed by al-Qaida terrorists.

Pakistani official: Police negotiating with Taliban for release of hundreds abducted in NW

ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani government official says police are negotiating with the Taliban to release hundreds of people abducted in a northwest tribal region.

Nigerian militants: British hostage to be freed after nearly 9 months in captivity

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s main militant group says it hopes to release within hours a British hostage seized nearly nine months ago in the country’s restive southern oil region.

Nigerian rebels hijack oil ship, hold 15 sailors hostage; attack 2 military bases

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian militants hijacked an oil industry ship and were holding 15 Filipino sailors hostage Thursday as the gunmen demanded that all oil workers leave the southern Niger Delta within days.

Suicide teams attack Afghan city, take hostages, sparking hours-long battle with US forces

KABUL — Teams of suicide bombers and insurgents attacked two government buildings in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, sparking running gun battles in a major Afghan city, officials said. Armed insurgents took government workers hostage and ambushed an American quick-reaction force, wounding one U.S. soldier.

Obama hosts Oval Office meeting with US captain once held hostage by Somali pirates

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has met with the captain of a U.S. cargo ship who was held hostage by Somali pirates last month.

Few US ships travel the Gulf of Aden, making attacks rare _ and dangerous for pirates

BOSTON — A month after Somali pirates vowed revenge on U.S.-flagged ships, there has been no surge of attacks against American boats or their crews.

Somali pirates seize German ship in Gulf of Aden, taking hostage 10 Romanian crew

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates hijacked a German cargo ship carrying 10 crew members in the Gulf of Aden, the latest seizure by high-seas bandits who are holding hundreds of merchant mariners hostage, officials said Wednesday.

Somali pirates seize German ship in Gulf of Aden, taking hostage 11 Romanian crew

NAIROBI, Kenya — A German cargo ship carrying 11 crew members in the Gulf of Aden called for help as it was being attacked by Somali pirates, but by the time a helicopter arrived to render assistance the pirates were already in control, officials said Wednesday.

Pakistan army: Taliban holding town hostage as approaching troops kill 14 militants

ISLAMABAD — Soldiers sent to halt a Taliban advance toward the Pakistani capital fought their way over a mountain pass, killed at least 14 militants, and narrowly escaped a wave of suicide car bombers.

French Foreign Minister confirms release of French, Canadian aid workers held in Darfur

PARIS — Two aid workers held hostage in Darfur, one French and one Canadian, were free Thursday after three weeks in captivity.

Pakistan army: Taliban holding town hostage as approaching troops kill 14 militants

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan army says the Taliban are holding the population of one town near the capital hostage.

Tamil Tiger political chief says rebels will not surrender, denies holding civilians hostage

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Tamil Tigers said Thursday they would never surrender to the advancing Sri Lankan forces, as the government issued a similarly defiant vow to continue the bloody civil war until the rebels’ leader is captured or killed.

Maersk Alabama sailor sues, claiming companies knowingly put crew in danger of pirates

HOUSTON — A member of the crew on the U.S.-flagged ship hijacked by African pirates sued the owner and another company Monday, accusing them of knowingly putting sailors in danger. Richard E. Hicks alleges in the suit that owner Maersk Line Limited and Waterman Steamship Corp., which provided the crew, ignored requests to improve safety measures for vessels sailing along the Somali coast.

Al-Qaida in North Africa to kill British hostage if radical preacher not released by UK

CAIRO — Al-Qaida in North Africa said Sunday it would kill a British hostage if London does not release an imprisoned radical preacher .

Al-Qaida in North Africa to kill British hostage if radical preacher not released by UK

CAIRO — Al-Qaida in North Africa says it will kill a British hostage if the British government does not release an imprisoned radical preacher.

Pakistani authorities have retrieved remains of Polish hostage believed beheaded by militants

DERA ISMAIL KHAN — The remains of a Polish geologist who was apparently beheaded by Taliban militants have been retrieved and will be handed over to his country, Pakistani officials said Sunday.

Sea captain who was held hostage gets hero’s homecoming

JERICHO, Vt. — Less than two weeks after the U.S. Navy rescued Capt. Richard Phillips from captivity by Somali pirates, the skipper got a hero’s welcome Saturday from a crowd of about 500 of his neighbors and well-wishers from around New England.

Sea captain who was held hostage getting hero’s homecoming today

JERICHO, Vt. — A week after returning home, the U.S. cargo ship captain who spent five days as a hostage of Somali pirates is getting a hero’s welcome.