Air Force lets UN workers go

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: After three days of questioning, the Air Force released on Monday six UN humanitarian workers and let them fly off in their Russian-made helicopter.

Hasanuddin Air Base commander Commodore Edy Suyanto said he found no evidence the five Russian and one Australian relief workers were involved in a "suspicious mission" when they changed their original flight plan and flew over the province's airspace en route to Papua New Guinea from Aceh.

Edy said the foreigners, who work for the United Nations Logistic Center, told questioners they were unfamiliar with the route and deviated by accident.

An Indonesian jet fighter forced the Mi-8 helicopter to land on Friday after it flew into provincial airspace without permission. -- Antara