11th HOUR + 90 MINUTES RELEASE FOR US DIPLOMATS

AFTER MORE THAN FIVE AND A HALF MILLION MAN HOURS in captivity the 52 American hostages were finally released from their ordeal in Iran. President Reagan had been in office for half an hour when the news broke that at 17.30 GMT an Air Algerie Boeing 727 had left Tehran airport destined for Algiers via Athena with all 52 hostages on board They were met by Mr Warren Christopher, former US deputy Secretary of State, at 01.30 GMT on Wednesday 21 January and were expected to be transferred to the military hospital at Wiesbaden, Germany.