Pakistani national Amjad Hafeez, who was kidnapped by militants in Iraq almost a week ago has been released unharmed and unconditionally, Pakistan TV (PTV) reported on July 2.

The family of Amjad Hafeez, said the state-run television, confirmed that he had reached the camp where he was working and Hafeez also called his mother in Rawalpindi, twin city of Islamabad.

The captors, who threatened to behead Hafeez unless prisoners in some Iraqi jails were released before a deadline, let Hafeez gounhurt, said PTV, without giving more details.

Hafeez's release was confirmed by Information Minister Sheikh Rashid, who said that Hafeez had contacted his family in Pakistan to tell them he was free and already in Kuwait.

"It was a good news and we welcome his release," said the minister.

The Pakistani government has repeatedly appealed to the captors to release Hafeez unconditionally while vowing not to bow to their demands.

Hafeez worked for a Kuwaiti company as a driver engaged in transportation of foodstuffs and other goods to Iraq. He was abducted by some unidentified militants in Balad north of Baghdadon June 26.

Iraqi insurgents release two Turkish hostages

Iraqi insurgents holding two Turkish hostages said in a video footage showed by an Arab-language television station Al-Jazeera friday that the hostages were being released.

The insurgents who identified themselves as the al-Mujahedeen Brigade (the holy warriors), said they would release the men without conditions after their Turkish company promised to stop working for US forces in Iraq.

"To honor the Muslim Turkish people and upon the repentance of the two hostages, and their pledge not to do such a thing again...we decided to release them in return for nothing," one of three masked gunmen appearing in the video said.

An official in the Turkish embassy, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "They have been released and they are on the way to their company in Iraq."

Earlier, Turkish officials were quoted as saying that the two Turkish hostages were released at about 10:30 a.m. local time (0730GMT), adding that the release followed their company's agreement to stop doing business with Americans in Iraq.

The two hostages were reported missing on June 1. On Tuesday, three other Turkish hostages, threatened by their captors to be beheaded, were also released.

Thousands of Turks work as truck drivers or contractors in Iraq.

The kidnapped Turks were accused of working for the US occupiers. Iraq has witnessed a spree of hostage-taking since April, during which over 40 foreigners have been kidnapped in the country, with most released while a few executed.

Source: Xinhua