August 19, 1995
KASHMIR, India (CNN)--The Indian government weighed the risks on Saturday of a possible military raid to free four Western hostages including one American, from their Moslem militant captors. But officials said such a move would be considered only as a last resort.
A group of Western specialists experienced in handling kidnappings, met K.V. Krishna Rao, governor of India's Jammu and Kashmir state, on Saturday to discuss the various options.
Al-Faran militants, who kidnapped five Western tourists from Kashmir's scenic Pahalgam mountains last month, beheaded Norway's Hans Christian Ostroe last weekend.
The Al-Faran, unknown even to Kashmiri separatists before the abductions, threatened in a note found near Ostroe's body to kill the remaining four hostages unless 15 jailed guerrilla comrades were released within two days.
The group still holds Britain's Keith Mangan and Paul Wells, American Donald Hutchings, and German Dirk Hasert.
(CNN)--Nearly six years of civil war in Liberia may be coming to an end. The Reuters News agency reports that the country's warring parties have reached an agreement to share power.
The accord includes the removal of a controversial chairman in the national council of state, Tamba Tailor. He will be replaced by Sankar Wolo, who is an English professor.
Chief warlord Charles Taylor is to be part of the ruling body which will run Liberia until democratic elections are held. He was one of the main figures in the 1989 uprising that started the war.
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