Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said Sunday he wishes a safe return to Japan for a group of Japanese tourists freed unharmed Saturday after a nearly nine-hour hijacking ordeal in Greece.

"I would like to share my relief with the families of the tourists and the Japanese people. I hope those involved in the incident are well," Mori said in a statement.

Mori and Foreign Minister Yohei Kono expressed their gratitude to Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Simitis and the Greek government for helping resolve the hostage drama.