Gov't official comments on kidnapping of Dutch aid worker

Vladimir Yelagin, Federal Minister for Chechnya, expressed his regret withthe last night's kidnapping of Arjan Erkel, head of the Doctors WithoutBorders' mission in Dagestan, and Nina Davidovich, head of the Friendshipnon-government humanitarian organization, who was abducted in Chechnya onJuly 23. Opening today's meeting with members of international humanitarianorganizations, Yelagin pointed out that law enforcement agencies were using"all possible efforts to find these people". However, according to theminister, there has been no "positive information" on this question yet. Headded he hoped that the problem would be resolved positively.Arjan Erkel, head of the Doctors Without Borders' mission in Dagestan, waskidnapped on the outskirts of Makhachkala late on Monday. Kidnappers puthim in a VAZ- 2199 car and fled. No demands have been made yet..