Three Turk hostages released in Iraq

Image from a video released to the Al-Jazeera television network Saturday June 26, 2004 showing three Turkish men kidnapped by the Tawhid and Jihad movement, allegedly led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.(AP photo)

Three Turkish men taken hostage in Iraq three weeks ago were released on Tuesday, Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV news channel reported.

A group led by suspected al-Qaida operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has freed the Turkish hostages whom the group had threatened to behead, al-Jazeera said.

A masked man said on a video recording aired by al-Jazeera that "Jama'at al-Tawhid and Jihad announces the release of the Turkish hostages for the sake of Muslims in Turkey and their demonstrations against (US President George W.) Bush."