U.N. aid worker freed in Pakistan

QUETTA, Pakistan, April 4 (UPI) -- An American working for the United Nations in Pakistan was freed Saturday, two months after his abduction by an insurgent group.

The kidnappers left John Solecki in a village about 30 miles south of Quetta, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said.

Solecki, 49, of Demarest, N.J., worked in Baluchistan, assisting Afghan refugees and local victims of earthquakes and floods, UNHCR said. He was kidnapped Feb. 2 by gunmen who killed his driver, Syed Hashim.

The kidnappers claimed to be from a previously unknown organization, the Balochistan United Liberation Front, the BBC said. While Solecki was in captivity, they sought the release of thousands of prisoners held by the Pakistani government.

Someone claiming to speak for the group called local reporters early Saturday to say Solecki was being freed because of his health problems.

U.N. officials said in late March they were worried Solecki needed medical treatment, describing him as having multiple health problems.