Four Jordanian hostages freed in Iraq

Four Jordanians kidnapped in Iraq have been released, sources close to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The four hostages, namely, Ahmad Abu-Jaafar, Mohammad Ahmad Khleifat, Khaled Ibrahim Masoud and Ahmad Tayseer Sunokrot, were freed Tuesday night at the Iraqi city of Fallujah, about 50 km west of Baghdad, the sources said.

The four men have contacted their families and informed them that they will back soon, they added.

The kidnappings became known on July 27 when Dubai Television broadcast a video tape showing the four men holding Jordanian identification cards. The captors claimed belonging to the "Group of Death".

Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher said Tuesday Amman was contacting all parties concerned to release all the seven citizens kidnapped in Iraq but did not give any press release in order not to affect these efforts.

Another three Jordanians were still being held by militants in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua