All three teams needed to be present to free the hostages.

The army said it was prepared to use force to free the hostages.

"We are doing everything possible to free the hostages by peaceful means," he said.

On April 24, a military task force failed to free the hostages.

Negotiations to free the plane and hostages went on for a year.

After nearly four hours, Lee was shot dead by police and all the hostages were freed.

"Let us go home, and we will free the hostages," he said.

The President has sanctioned the use of military force to free the hostages.

Peasants asked him to free the hostages, but he refused.

At best, three hostages were freed during the 18 months the secret operation was in effect.