New York, October 28, 2003—The four Guatemalan journalists abducted last Sunday by former paramilitary forces in the town of La Libertad, in the northwestern department of Huehuetenango, were released this afternoon after the government of President Alfonso Portillo Cabrera promised to compensate the ex-paramilitaries for their services during the 36-year civil war. [Read CPJ's alert about the kidnappings.]

Reporters Freddy López and Alberto Ramírez and photographers Emerson Díaz and Mario Linares, all of the Guatemala City--based daily Prensa Libre, were released after 50 hours in captivity.