Iraqi insurgents release two Turkish hostages

(Xinhua/AFP Photo) 

(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    BAGHDAD, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- 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. Enditem