Following talks between Georgian and South Ossetian representatives, some, but apparently not all the several dozen hostages taken over the previous few days in the conflict zone were released. The Ossetian side released \"several dozen\" Georgian women, while the Georgians freed either nine or 10 Ossetians. But according to South Ossetian government spokeswoman Irina Gagloeva, several Ossetians remain in captivity. The hostages were snatched in retaliation after the abduction in the conflict zone on 3 November of Georgian Eldar Kakhniashvili. Georgian and South Ossetian police will conduct a joint search for him. They will be accompanied by field engineers after two Georgian television journalists covering the ongoing search for Kakhniashvili were seriously injured when they stepped on a land mine in the conflict zone on 6 November. (Caucasus Press)