Egyptian truck driver Mohammed Ali Ahmed, who was freed after being held hostage in Iraq, speaks to the press with tearful eyes upon arriving at Kuwait international airport 01 September 2004 in Kuwait City. The hostages, three Kenyans, three Indians and an Egyptian, were seized on July 21 by the Black Banners Brigade of the Secret Islamic Army (SIA). The Kuwaiti employers of the truck drivers said that they had not ceased operations in Iraq and had paid more than half a million dollars as ransom to the kidnappers. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Kenyan truck drivers Fayez Khamis (2nd R), Jalal Awad (R), and Ibrahim Kheir (2L), who were freed after being held hostage in Iraq, are welcomed by an unidentified Kenyan official upon arriving at Kuwait international airport 01 September 2004 in Kuwait City. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

   BAGHDAD, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Seven truck drivers from Egypt, Kenya and India held by militants in Iraq since July 21 have been released, Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV reported Wednesday.

   Three Kenyans, three Indians and an Egyptian appeared in interviews with the al-Arabiya channel, looking in good mood and healthy.

   The seven hostages were kidnapped on July 21 by a group calling itself "Holders of the Black Banners" affiliated to a group called "Secret Islamic Army".

   All of them were working for the Kuwait and Gulf Link company.

   The kidnappers threatened to kill the hostages unless their Kuwaiti employer halts operations in Iraq.

   The freed hostages were first delivered to the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Baghdad and later transferred to the Baghdad International Airport accompanied by a representative of the Kuwaiti company, al-Arabiya reported.  Enditem