Lesniak was kidnapped while playing golf at the Lusignan golf course, East Coast Demerara, and was released unharmed Saturday night.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, Ms. Betty McCutchan, told the Chronicle yesterday, "We are pleased that he was released unharmed."

"We are cooperating with the Guyanese authorities on the investigations (but) it would be inappropriate to comment on any aspect of the investigations at this time", she said.

A seven-member team of anti-kidnapping and other special forces experts of the U.S. arrived here Sunday to probe the kidnapping.

Lesniak was released after 10 hours in captivity following a ransom payment of some US$10,000 by "a lady friend", sources said.

He was reportedly held by the kidnappers at their hideout in Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Buxton has been linked with a spate of armed kidnappings, killings, robberies and criminal violence over the past year.

Sources said that on Saturday, President Bharrat Jagdeo met U.S. Embassy officials, the heads of the Police Force and the Army, Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, to discuss the situation.