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3 Americans held in Congo released

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department Sunday confirmed three Americans arrested over a week ago by authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been released.

The U.S. consultants, working for AQMI Strategy, were part of a security team charged with "providing high-level consulting and security services" to Dr. Oscar Kashala, a presidential candidate in Congo's June 30 elections, according to the Orlando, Florida-based company.

AQMI is making arrangements for their return, according to State Department Duty Officer Janelle Hirnimus.

The company identified the three Americans arrested as:

Joseph Robinson, 47, a former captain in the Orlando Police Department and former deputy chief of staff for Orlando mayors Glenda Hood and Buddy Dyer;

Kevin Billings, 48, a retired Secret Service agent who was in charge of providing protection for U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush; and

Seth Taylor, a subcontractor from San Diego.

They were arrested on May 19 along with 23 Nigerians and South Africans, reportedly on suspicion of a coup attempt, which was flatly denied by AQMI Strategy and Pretoria-based Omega Risk Solutions, which employed most of the others arrested.

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