A group of three European tourists - two Germans and an Irishman - being held hostage in Iran were released on 27 and 28 December, Iran's Interior Ministry said. The three men, who had been kidnapped while cycling on the southeastern Sistani-Baluchestan road, near the Pakistani border, were in good health, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharrazi said. Tehran announced on 9 December that it was 'seriously' working towards securing the release of the three tourists, who had disappeared a day earlier. The kidnappers had set a ransom of Eur 5 million ($6.1 million) has been set for their release.